Hackles

Alexandra Fly based on the Mary Orvis Marbury pattern in Favorite Flies and Their Histories (1892)

Look up hackle in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The hackles are the long, fine feathers which are found on the backs of certain types of domestic chicken. They are often brightly coloured, especially on roosters. These feathers are often used as fly lures.

The term can also apply to the erectile hairs along the back of the neck of an animal, especially of a dog.

Hackles are usually used as visual warnings to other animals or threats. The animals will raise their hackles up to threaten another animal.

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