tail feather

“His hat had a kite’s rufous tail feather in it, his practical russet wool doublet was slashed to show a lining of gold satin, and the turndown collar he wore instead of a ruff was of a gleaming damasked silk.”

Simon & Schuster: To Ruin a Queen

“THE Creeks or Muscogulges construct their royal standard of the tail feather of this bird, which is called by a name signifying the eagle's tail; this they carry with them when they go to battle, but then it is painted with a zone of red within the brown tips; and in peaceable negociations it is displayed new, clean and white, this standard is held most sacred by them on all occasions; and is constructed and ornamented with great ingenuity.”

Travels Through North & South Carolina, Georgia, East & West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogulges, or Creek Confederacy, and the Country of the Chactaws; Containing An Account of the Soil and Natural Productions of Those Regions, Together with Observations on the Manners of the Indians.