Cock feather in a bonnet for civilian attire.

[Nathan]

I posted a thread about black cock feathers a while ago and have since learned a lot. They are quite different looking from Clan Chief eagle feathers but usually indicate that the wearer is in a pipe band or is a piper. Here's my mom, displaying hers in all her seven year old glory. This bonnet was part of her band uniform.

Mary Frances MacDonald age 7.jpg

[David Thorpe]

Don't pretend to be an armiger, or a baron, or a chief, if you aren't. Be prepared to catch some grief. You are the only one who can say it's worth the flak to dress as you like.

Aye! A thousand times, aye!

Specific to the context of the subject area of this forum, I would add the word "Scottish" before "armiger".

[JohntheBiker]

Cock feathers - dancers, pipers and some military uniforms - much more common in the '50's (and before). Not very common today.

[ThistleDown]

We must also keep in mind that the eagle feather business is not 'Scots' tradition, but 'Highland Scots' tradition. Even if it is only 150 years old that is certainly enough time under the belt for a tradition to be established. About that long ago was the Crimean War, the US Civil War, Chinese rebellions, the Austro-Prussian War, the French were in Mexico, Russia sold Alaska to the US, and Highland aristos were wearing eagle feathers. A sign of their self-importance, perhaps, and a bit like the pre-dandy of seventy-five years earlier who stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni. Today dandies don't usually wear feathers, but it has become traditional for Highland chiefs and other armigers to. (There are a few dandy chiefs, mind you.)

As others have said, best to leave your feathers on the bird.

[creagdhubh]

We must also keep in mind that the eagle feather business is not 'Scots' tradition, but 'Highland Scots' tradition. Even if it is only 150 years old that is certainly enough time under the belt for a tradition to be established. About that long ago was the Crimean War, the US Civil War, Chinese rebellions, the Austro-Prussian War, the French were in Mexico, Russia sold Alaska to the US, and Highland aristos were wearing eagle feathers. A sign of their self-importance, perhaps, and a bit like the pre-dandy of seventy-five years earlier who stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni. Today dandies don't usually wear feathers, but it has become traditional for Highland chiefs and other armigers to. (There are a few dandy chiefs, mind you.)

As others have said, best to leave your feathers on the bird.

Precisely, Rex. Well put.