Child size feather headdress with assorted green, blue and orange feathers on a white string headband, one long blue feather at the front.

In many cultures the head is viewed as the most important part of the body, to be protected and respected. It is believed in many parts of the world that the head is where the soul or spirit resides. Headdresses are therefore often an important part of daily and ceremonial attire because they draw attention to this key body part.

The beautiful bright colours of feathers means they are frequently a status-symbol, worn on ceremonial or ritual occasions. Often the brightly coloured feathers of the macaw, parrot, and toucan are used. These headdresses are worn at initiations, at funeral rituals, by shamans, for social visiting, to express group identity, to mark life stages, or to exercise political power.

Birds are traditionally hunted with blow-guns, or with bows and arrows, although shot guns are commonly used today. Blunted arrows are sometimes used so that blood from the bird does not spoil the feathers. Sometimes the young of some birds are captured, raised in the village, and used as an ongoing source of feathers, which grow back on the birds after being plucked. Care has to be taken not to overpluck the birds, as this would kill them.

Birds are regarded by many South American groups as sacred beings. They also feature strongly in myths, in which people are often created by birds and taught by them how to behave. By dressing in feathers, the wearer may therefore gain spiritual strength and protection; or indeed they may be able to take on the behaviour and appearance of the bird whose feathers they wear.

A large collection of headdresses from South America can be seen at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford, www.prm.ox.ac.uk/feathers.html