tertia
- noun
- /ˈtɜrʃə/
- Specialized
- Damage to the tertia can affect a bird's ability to fly long distances.
Examples
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The bird's tertia feathers are crucial for flight stability.
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During molting season, the tertia are often replaced along with other wing feathers.
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The ornithologist carefully examined the tertia to assess the bird's health.
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In ornithology, the tertiae are often studied for their unique structure.
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The ornithologist carefully examined the tertia to assess the bird's health.
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Damage to the tertia can affect a bird's ability to fly long distances.
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During molting season, the tertia are often replaced along with other wing feathers.
Synonyms
A large stiff feather on a bird's wing or tail that helps it fly
A feather on the inner wing near the bird's body
Surface Forms
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.