Feather Bonnet, 72nd Highlanders of Canada The feather bonnet is a type of military headdress used mainly by the Scottish Highland infantry regiments of the British (and Canadian) Army from about 1763 until the outbreak of World War I. It is now mostly worn by pipers and drummers in various bands throughout the world. It is also worn in a similar fashion by regiments in various Commonwealth armies. The feather bonnet began with the knitted Tam o'shanter bonnet with a chequered border. This was propped up and worn with a tall hackle. During the 18th century, the highlanders who wore this hat began to add ostrich feathers to decorate it. This decoration evolved into a full covering of the original Tam o'shanter. The ostrich feathers were then entwined into a lightweight cage, producing the height. The feather bonnet has one or more (usually 4 or 5) "tails" that hang down below the headband, and the regimental badge and hackle are displayed the left.