Take the heathland feather challenge!

Inspired by Data Analyst Daria, whose young daughter is fascinated by feathers and loves to collect them, we bring you our heathland feather challenge. Brought to life with beautiful drawings by Warden Rupert.

If the challenge has inspired you to observe feathers more closely and perhaps draw your own, Countryfile are here to help with “How to draw feathers“.

Click on the drawings for larger images.

Feather A

If you catch a glimpse of this striking visitor to the heaths, it’s often in the pine trees, repeatedly flicking its brightly coloured tail!

Is a striking tail feather, dropped by a redstart!

Feather B

This small streaky bird, with a high piping call, is known for its parachuting display flight. Often seen in small flocks, especially in winter, on heathland and the wider countryside.

Is the piping meadow pipit!

Feather C

This brave little heathland bird stays in the UK all year round and has a distinctive red eye ring! Some people know it as the electric bird, because of its erratic, scratchy song.

The ‘electric’ bird, the Dartford warbler!

Feather D

Active at dusk and dawn, this fascinating heathland bird has a gaping mouth it uses to catch night-flying moths in mid-air!

Belongs to a nightjar!

Feather E

This heathland bird has a beautiful fluting song – a sure sign that spring has arrived on the heaths! It has a rather stumpy tail and a pale eye stripe.

Is a woodlark feather!