noun
- the flight feathers of a bird’s tail
Usage: ornithology; plural form
Examples
- The hawk’s rectrices were damaged during the storm.
- Ornithologists examine the rectrices to identify bird species.
- The peacock’s colorful rectrices create an impressive display.
- Several rectrices were missing from the specimen.
- The bird’s rectrices help control flight direction.
- Researchers counted twelve rectrices on the eagle’s tail.