Original Marabou

[tworod]

Where the original marabou came from. This is the Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumenifer, photographed two weeks ago on the Serenghetti. It's down feathers were replaced by turkey but this is where the name originated. They appear to be rather common in the wild.
Other fly tying feathers I saw roaming around were ostrich, I learned that the black feathers are from the males and grey from the females, Kori Bustard, and Francolin, partridge/quail/prairie chicken type feathers.
All of the above were plentiful.
The one bird I would love to have a pelt of was the Superb Starling. It is similar size to our Starling but with an orange breast much brighter than a Robin's and the most iridescent feathers I have ever seen on the rest of the body. At least 5 times as colorful as our Starling. They would make a great Starling and Herl.