How many primary flight feathers does a pegasus wing have?

[silvadel 1,393]

I mean birds seem to have about 16 feathers running down a wing... 

 

 

But in the artwork from the show it looks more like 7 or 8 (with foals having 6)

 

 

For a fic I am writing, I need to know just how many feathers they have on a wing -- is it 7 (or 8 for some), 16, some higher number?

 

I mean Luna is shown with 8 + 4.

 

[Osiria 142]

I say it's more than 16 if it meant to be realistic...But If I wrote something about this I would just pick a number I like or symbolic.

[Ridley Wolf 291]

Non-passerine birds usually have 9 -11, and most passerine birds have ten.

 

I find myself wondering if the number varies between Pegasi, as they don't all share the same flying style.

[sweetolebob18 728]

I'd look at the largest flying birds.  Swans, Condors, etc. & go with them.  Did you know, a giraffe has the same number of neck bones as a mouse?  It's probably the same w birds & pegasi.  An interesting question would be Do they have the same number as Alicorns?

 

As to number shown in animation being inaccurate, well count the fingers sometimes.  They get that wrong about half the time, too.  Dash probably has the same number as Fluttershy (same species, after all) but hers are likely larger, more sensitive, & under better control.  (Look at a musician's hands sometimes)

[silvadel 1,393]

I'd look at the largest flying birds.  Swans, Condors, etc. & go with them.  Did you know, a giraffe has the same number of neck bones as a mouse?  It's probably the same w birds & pegasi.  An interesting question would be Do they have the same number as Alicorns?

 

As to number shown in animation being inaccurate, well count the fingers sometimes.  They get that wrong about half the time, too.  Dash probably has the same number as Fluttershy (same species, after all) but hers are likely larger, more sensitive, & under better control.  (Look at a musician's hands sometimes)

 

Yes I do know that fact about a giraffe.  I actually stated it when I was asking in skype about this question.

 

[9:32:04 AM] silvadel: Just like the size of a mammal does not change the number of neck bones...  A giraffe has the same number as you

Edited December 18, 2014 by silvadel