The Single Eagle Feather

[Geoff Withnell]

I would also like to point out that the Scottish American Military Society national uniform regulations state "No member may wear one to three eagle feathers unless authorized by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms."

A big Kyle to this. In addition, I would suggest that the same respect apply to a clan or clan association meeting anywhere, and any other kind of meeting as well. I would also point out that anyone wearing an eagle feather with traditional Highland attire would be assumed to be a Scottish armiger, under arms duly matriculated with the Lyon Court, and that otherwise the feather would be considered by some to be a misrepresentation.

[Mike M.]

I'll just have to wear conure (small parrot) feathers. My bird deigns to provide me with those on occasion. ith:

[Harold Cannon]

I would also like to point out that the Scottish American Military Society national uniform regulations state "No member may wear one to three eagle feathers unless authorized by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms."

This is kind of off to me as Lyon has stated that feathers are used by the permission of the clan chief.

[Hopper250]

This is kind of off to me as Lyon has stated that feathers are used by the permission of the clan chief.

Wouldn't that mean that as long as the chief says its OK the Lord Lyon won't have a problem with it?

[MacCathmhaoil]

This is kind of off to me as Lyon has stated that feathers are used by the permission of the clan chief.

I missed where that was stated, could you show me?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I missed where that was stated, could you show me?

Check out Lord Lyon's web site.

It is the prerogative of the chief to determine who of his clanfolk may, or may not, wear feathers. Lyon merely supplies the guidelines as to how many may be worn.

[MacCathmhaoil]

MoR I have looked at the site but still cannot identify the section where that is stated! Could you be a bit more specific as to where it is contained? Certainly I can understand the Chief deciding who may be a Chieftain (2 feathers) but I would have thought an armiger would be entitled to his single feather regardless, he may in this case have to wear his own crest versus that of a clansman. Would not a non clan affiliated armiger be able to wear a single feather?

[Carlo]

As I understand the Chief can welcome you into the clan or deny the welcome, but:

An armiger may also choose to wear instead the Crest badge of his Chief if the armiger is a clansman. An armiger is entitled to one silver eagle's feather behind the plain circlet, and if he is also a Peer he may add his appropriate coronet of rank on top of the circlet.

[Geoff Withnell]

They may not have got the wording exactly right but I think it's safe to say that the SAMS members can understand not to wear the feathers unless you are a genuine, Scottish armiger, chieftain or chief.

This is kind of off to me as Lyon has stated that feathers are used by the permission of the clan chief.

[WVHighlander]

Intriguing if that is SAMS position. I know a few on here who are armigerous with arms from other than Lord Lyon, whose Chiefs recognize those arms. Sounds a wee bit ... but I digress.

But the question put to the group was the wearing of eagle feathers (albeit artificial for sake of legalities etc.) behind the Clan Cap badge if one is armigerous which Harold did a splendid job of showing...(academic in me). I would further point out that some of the Clan Counsels etc have determined if one is a commissioner for a Clan, they may wear a feather if they are in the area they represent...so in my case I would wear a feather whilst in North Carolina if I was so inclined. Just throwing that out there to poke the bears.

Slainte