Balmoral bonnet and feathers...

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

Only a very few individuals who, by the customs of Highland society, are entitled to wear feathers wear them; even then the wearing of feathers is relegated to specific, ceremonial occasions. Strictly speaking, the decision as to who does -- or does not -- wear feathers rests with the chief of the clan, and the Lord Lyon has made this clear; the wearing of feathers does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Court of the Lord Lyon. It is the clan chief alone who decides who in his clan may, or may not, wear "tall" feathers.

Tall feathers, particularly in North America, are often indicative of awards of merit bestowed upon worthy clanfolk by their chief. While it is true that some de novo armigers wear a tall feather on any and all occasions, this presumption of a chiefly prerogative is based on the flawed assumption that tall feathers are some sort of heraldic right when, in fact, no such heraldic right exists.