1. relating to or being the third set of flight feathers on a bird’s wing
Usage: ornithology

1. any of the flight feathers attached to the innermost joint of a bird’s wing
Usage: ornithology

Examples

• The ornithologist examined the tertial feathers to identify the species.
• Tertial flight feathers are located closest to the bird’s body.
• The hawk’s tertials showed distinctive markings.
• Damaged tertials can affect a bird’s flight performance.
• The field guide described the tertial pattern in detail.
• Birdwatchers often focus on tertial characteristics for identification.