What color is this (iridescent) cape?

[Kms]

I like multicolored feathers, and in my search for a furnace saddle I picked up this very cool little cape, with a dark center bar and iridescent - nearly metallic - edges that shift from gold to silver as the feather rotates. I haven’t seen that many feathers, but I’ve definitely never seen a rooster cape this shiny - pics were taken in natural indirect and not very bright light.

Got this at classicflyfisherman btw, a truly excellent little shop in Lansdale, PA, definitely worth a visit (or twelve) if you’re in the area.

 

[jifigz]

No idea what I would call it, but it looks like a good color, and it should be useful.

 

[Kms]

No idea what I would call it, but it looks like a good color, and it should be useful.

It will definitely get used 👍. Before this I hadn’t seen any brightly iridescent rooster feathers other than black with green iridescence.

Fwiw AI image analysis says this:

Feather Characteristics

• Center Bar: Distinct, narrow black or dark brown stripe, characteristic of badger or furnace variants.
• Edge Color: The outer barbs display a striking iridescent gold sheen, especially evident in angled light in the third image.
• Iridescence: This is true structural iridescence, not pigmentation or dye. The shift between gold and silver depending on viewing angle confirms that.

Classification: This feather does not match any standard commercial category. However, descriptively, it is best referred to as:

“Natural Iridescent Gold Badger Variant”

or more fully:

“Genetic rooster hackle with black center bar and naturally occurring gold iridescent edges—undied, structurally reflective, and likely from a rare variant line.”

Breeding Origin (Likely)
If this came from a commercial cape, it’s almost certainly from:

• Whiting Farms, Hebert-Miner, or a selective breeder
• Possibly from a grizzly-badger or furnace line that threw a rare iridescent sport feather

 

[dryflyguy]

I would call it medium dun, and think it would work for that.
Dont think the fish are that picky about hackle

 

[Kms]

I would call it medium dun, and think it would work for that.
Dont think the fish are that picky about hackle

I know the fish don’t care. I like multicolored feathers but refuse to pay cree prices and so look for barred, grizzly, furnace, badger, variant, etc. And I’ve already got enough for 12 lifetimes, lol.

 

[dryflyguy]

I know the fish don’t care. I like multicolored feathers but refuse to pay cree prices and so seek barred, grizzly, furnace, etc.

Yeah
I've always mixed the barred color I want with grizzly hackle

 

[tomgamber]

dishwater Blonde.

 

[Kms]

dishwater Blonde.

Nahhh, too shiny. That feather made a very shimmery bugger

 

[mt_flyfisher]

I think that the natural duns, in all of their variations, of which I believe yours is one, are one of the prettiest hackles of all.

I’d call yours a Dun Badger rooster cape.

Here is yours, and another Whiting cape called Dun Badger for comparison. Of course no two necks are identical, Dun Badger, or other.

 

[Kms]

@mt_flyfisher That looks very similar. Thx!

 

[JG63]

I think that the natural duns, in all of their variations, of which I believe yours is one, are one of the prettiest hackles of all.

I’d call yours a Dun Badger rooster cape.

Here is yours, and another Whiting cape called Dun Badger for comparison. Of course no two necks are identical, Dun Badger, or other.

View attachment 1641242490

View attachment 1641242491

I love Badger variations! Grizzly and Dun types get most of the love but Badger colors work very well on the fish too

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

it's called "badger" and it's just that simple.

Dun feathers are a very pale grey-blue. Dun horses are golden tan.

 

[jeffroey]

Others nailed it. It's a badger. If you twisted my arm and made me be more specific, maybe a medium ginger or golden badger. Doesn't matter much.

The thing I like most about tying w badger hackle BTW is they're nice for a pattern that calls for a relatively light hackle but the dark center does a nice job of mimicking a dry fly's thorax when wound.

 

[mt_flyfisher]

Dun feathers are a very pale grey-blue.

Each of these are generally considered as Duns, whether light dun, dark dun, rusty dun, etc.

Personally, I thought this neck was a bit of a stretch to call it a Lt. Dun, but that’s how it was labeled by the guy who raised and sold it.

 

[JG63]

it's called "badger" and it's just that simple.

Dun feathers are a very pale grey-blue. Dun horses are golden tan.

Look, if we built this large, wooden badger...

Monty Python and the Holy Grail clip with quote Look, if we built this large, wooden badger... Yarn is the best search for video clips by quote. Find the exact moment in a TV show, movie, or music video you want to share. Easily move forward or backward to get to the perfect clip.

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[nfrechet]

i see golden badger

 

[EchoRidgeElder]

Boy, I'll tell you, I just purchased a pale watery dun from Charlie Collins and the big picture in post # 14 looks very close to that neck.
I am going with pale watery dun!