I am truly missing out when it comes to unusual and unique looking species of bird. I will admit I have never seen the one you mentioned or had any knowledge of it Halei, yet I am quite aware of some of the most obscure and extinct varieties... Never the less, I agree with you completely on how it looks similar to a epaulet. For a fursona that perhaps has their own military designed around their fantasy world, that would be an incredibly neat way to display it; perhaps dying it as needed.
You know, I would not be in the least bit surprised if somewhere, somehow, Farore was named after some sort of bird. ._. And it really does look it! Around here, I keep seeing miniature versions of jays and cardinals, but running any kind of search for that predictably brings up statues and baubles!