I believe that most birds that have no tail have had a close encounter with a predator. I think that most birds drop feathers in a sequence and not all at the same time. I have a Tufted Titmouse with no tail visiting my feeders. In an effort to limit House Sparrows and House Finches from my feeders I have been experimenting with different openings (shape and angle). The Tufted Titmouse without a tail cannot access feeders that Titmice with tails can access. No tail limits this birds agility. Having the pleasure of a Harris's Sparrow I have been scattering feed on the ground at its preferred feeding area. I now have a flock of 30+ cowbirds feeding there. Even as it busts a retirees bird feeding budget I will remain thankful for the Harris's. Tom Guisinger Lancaster, Oh ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]