World's most expensive feather sold at auction

A single feather from the now-extinct New Zealand huia bird has set a world record after being sold for NZD$46,521. 50 at an auction. The feather, which was initially expected to fetch up to $3,000, broke the previous record for a feather of the same species by 450%, the Webb's Auction House said. The huia bird was sacred to the Māori people, and its feathers were often worn as headpieces by chiefs and their families, as well as being gifted or traded. Its last confirmed sighting was in 1907, but unconfirmed sightings were reported for twenty to thirty years after that, according to the Museum of New Zealand. The huia was a small songbird of the wattlebird family in New Zealand and was known for its jumping abilities and beautiful plumage, which is distinct for the white tip across the edge. The feather sold on Monday was 'in wonderful condition', says Leah Morris, Head of Decorative Arts at Webb's Auction House.