A Subfossil Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus Feather from Volvedal, North Greenland

Abstract

Subfossil feathers are rarely recorded though they have a high preservation potential in peat deposits. In the lower part of a moss peat deposit from North Greenland a very well preserved feather was found and identified as originating from a Lapland Bunting on the basis of the structure of the downy barbules and on its pigmentation pattern. The age of the feather is 6000 to 8000 yr; it represents the oldest known bird from Greenland.