A “Church Window” feather comes exclusively from the male Ringneck Pheasant. These feathers are highly prized in fly tying for their versatility. They are shaped like a almond heart, you’ll find larger, reddish-brown feathers with a cream mottled center. They extend across the pheasant’s shoulders and are commonly used for streamer patterns, both as shoulders and cheeks, and sometimes as wings in matuka-style designs. These feathers offer numerous creative possibilities for fly tyers.
Further down on the bird’s back, the feathers soften and take on a blue-green hue. These “greenish feathers” make fantastic soft hackles for larger wet fly collars and streamer bodies.
One well-known fly that utilizes Church Window feathers as cheeks is the Darkside, a New England-style streamer originally tied by Jack Gartside in 1972.
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