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tertia

tertia

9.9
A long feather on the inner part of a bird's wing near the body
  • noun
  • /ˈtɜrʃə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tercial
  • Damage to the tertia can affect a bird's ability to fly long distances.

Examples

  • The bird's tertia feathers are crucial for flight stability.

  • During molting season, the tertia are often replaced along with other wing feathers.

  • The ornithologist carefully examined the tertia to assess the bird's health.

  • In ornithology, the tertiae are often studied for their unique structure.

  • The ornithologist carefully examined the tertia to assess the bird's health.

  • Damage to the tertia can affect a bird's ability to fly long distances.

  • During molting season, the tertia are often replaced along with other wing feathers.

Synonyms

flight feather
vstertia
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A large stiff feather on a bird's wing or tail that helps it fly

is a specific one of these, found at the innermost wing near the body
tertial
vstertia
  • Specialized
9.9

A feather on the inner wing near the bird's body

is the same meaning but is a different term or form

Surface Forms

tertia singular
tertiae plural

Etymology

Tertia comes from the Latin tertius, meaning 'third', and in birds it names the feathers closest to the body because they form the 'third' group on the wing. So tertia helps you remember these are the third set of flight feathers near the bird's body.