The Single Eagle Feather

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Just a quick question about something that sort of popped in my head the other day. First let me say that although I think coats of arms and what not are really neat, I have absolutely no plans on attaining one myself. So this question is strictly academic in nature. If someone attained a coat of arms through legit means, that is to say, the Lord Lyon or some other sanctioned body. And now you can wear the single eagle feather on your bonnet, can you only wear the feather behind the the badge that is related to your new coat of arms?

No, you may wear a real feather behind your clan badge if you so choose.

That is to say, if you were wearing a Forbes clan badge, or which ever clan badge, before you had a coat of arms, can you now wear the eagle feather behind your clan badge as well? Just curious if that was considered okay or if once you had your own coat of arms you no longer wore the clan badge. Hope that is not too confusing, it all makes sense in my own head I promise.

An armiger has two options when it comes to the badge worn on his bonnet. He may wear his own badge, with or without an attached metal feather, or he may wear an ordinary clan badge. What he should not do is affix a small metal feather to the clan badge, although he may, when appropriate, wear an actual feather behind either the clan badge or his personal crest badge.

[creagdhubh]

No, you may wear a real feather behind your clan badge if you so choose.


An armiger has two options when it comes to the badge worn on his bonnet. He may wear his own badge, with or without an attached metal feather, or he may wear an ordinary clan badge. What he should not do is affix a small metal feather to the clan badge, although he may, when appropriate, wear an actual feather behind either the clan badge or his personal crest badge.

I have also seen armigers and clan chiefs wear only their crest and wreath (in metal form, obviously) on their bonnet with the appropriate number of real feathers tucked behind it.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I have also seen armigers and clan chiefs wear only their crest and wreath (in metal form, obviously) on their bonnet with the appropriate number of real feathers tucked behind it.

Some of the seriously expensive badges have feathers than can be removed when real feathers are called for.

[Harold Cannon]

I have also noticed too that many chiefs wear their crest badge with metal feathers along with real feathers behind it.

[TheOfficialBren]

I have also noticed too that many chiefs wear their crest badge with metal feathers along with real feathers behind it.

Might that be out of convenience? I.e. already having one's badge affixed to one's bonnet and just popping the fearhers on out the door to an event (like a Games)? Or out of personal preference?

Afterall...they are the chiefs. They get the final say-so with such things.


Complete sidenote here (unrelated to the thread): as I was typing I misspelled "chiefs" and it reminded me of that old commercial featuring the Kansas City "Chefs."

[SlackerDrummer]

I think it's simply because they didn't invest in a) two cap badges of their crest, one with feathers and one without, or b) the type of badge that has removable metal feathers.

[Kilted Cole]

Okay...one....would any bird of prey be appropriate? Example Owl featheres.... Also, how does one find out or get awarded a coat of arms...I'm in the SCA and have an approved COA OBVIOUSLY NOT recognised by Lyon, and well...its make believe. My point is I'm with the OP on accademically knowing more about these things. I come from farming stock so I know more than likely I would never be able to have a real coat of arms. I'm just curious.