Ageing and sexing details:
|
JAN - JUL: after-second-year
male |
After-second-year males have extensive chestnut sides and a yellow crown. They typically also have a black mask, though in some cases such as the example shown, it can be faded.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2005
The wing of after-hatch-year males is for the most part uniformly dark, with contrast limited to the darker alternate plumage feathers in the greater coverts.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2005
After-hatch-year Chestnut-sided Warblers have relatively broad and rounded rectrices; the extent of white is typically greater on males than on females.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2005
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
|
JAN - JUL: after-second-year
female |
The combination of an indistinct grayish moustache and
distinct chestnut streaking is strongly suggestive of an
after-second-year female, but it is recommended to check the wings and
tail for confirmation. The crown is typically more greenish than yellowish.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2008
Note that while the primary coverts are slightly paler than the greater
coverts, they are nonetheless quite dark, fresh, and rounded. Also, the
primaries, secondaries and primary coverts do not differ appreciably in wear.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2008
The outer rectrices on after-second-year birds are quite broad and
rounded at the tip; the extent of white tends to be less on females than on males.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2008
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
|
JAN - JUL: second-year
male |
The black moustache and moderate extent of
chestnut markings suggest a second-year male, but this should be
confirmed by looking at the wing and tail.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2007
Photo by Barbara Frei,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2008
Note the distinct contrast between the dull and somewhat worn primary
coverts, primaries, and secondaries, versus the much darker and fresher greater coverts. Note also the contrast sometimes visible on second-year
birds between the fresh and dark greater coverts and the somewhat worn,
unreplaced secondaries (the tattered tertials often being the most
apparent).
Photo by Barbara Frei,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2008
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2006
The rectrices on second-year birds are
narrower and more pointed than those of after-second-year birds, and
often show appreciably more wear (especially the central rectrices).
Photo by Barbara Frei,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2008
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2006
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
|
JAN - JUL: second-year
female |
Second-year females are the palest in spring, with only small traces of chestnut, pale and indistinct grayish moustaches, and greenish caps.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2007
As with second-year males, second-year females show fresh greater coverts contrasting with a paler and more worn block of feathers comprising the primary coverts, primaries, and secondaries. The contrast can be particularly evident when comparing the often tattered tertials with the adjacent greater coverts.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2007
Rectrices of second-year warblers tend to be relatively narrower and more pointed than those of older birds. In the photo below, the outer rectrices do not show this typical shape, but the central rectrices are closer to the expected shape, and also show some of the wear expected on a second-year bird.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2007
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
|
JUL - DEC: after-hatch-year
male |
After-hatch-year
males have the most distinct fall plumage, as they are the only age/sex
class with moderately extensive chestnut streaking, as shown in the
photo below. Another distinctly after-hatch-year feature
visible in this photo is the bluish-gray edging on the black primary coverts.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2005
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), September 2007
The primary coverts are only slightly paler than the
greater coverts, and are broad and rounded, with narrow bluish-gray edging.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), September 2007
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2005
The rectrices are broad
and rounded on after-hatch-year birds; after-hatch-year males have the greatest amount of white.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2005
Photo by Marie-Anne
Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), September 2007
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
|
JUL - DEC: after-hatch-year
female |
After-hatch-year females are relatively
recognizable by virtue of their blackish primary coverts with bluish-gray
edging, combined with minimal or absent chestnut streaking.
However, they may be confused with hatch-year males and the open wing
and tail should be checked to confirm age and sex.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2005
Photo by Seabrooke Leckie, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), September 2006
The primary coverts are only slightly paler than the greater coverts,
and are broad and rounded, with narrow bluish-gray edging. in the second example below, the bird is just completing its prebasic moult, with the final two secondaries almost fully grown.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2005
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2008
The rectrices are broad
and rounded on after-hatch-year birds. Females tend to have less white on the tail than males, though the amount is variable as illustrated by the photos below.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2005
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2008
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
|
JUL - DEC: hatch-year
male |
Hatch-year males have little to no chestnut
streaking, like after-hatch-year females, but tend to have somewhat
paler and more poorly-marked primary coverts. However, as the
second photo below (of a hatch-year male confirmed by skull condition)
shows, the primary coverts may show some visible blue edging even on
hatch-year birds, therefore looking at the open wing and tail is advised
to be confident of age and sex.
Photo by Marie-Anne
Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), September 2007
Photo by
Seabrooke Leckie,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2006
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), September 2005
The contrast between the primary coverts and greater
coverts is somewhat greater than on after-hatch-year birds, and the
primary coverts tend to have less blue edging.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), September 2007
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), September 2005
The rectrices of
hatch-year birds are relatively narrow and tapered to a point.
Photo by Marie-Anne
Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), September 2007
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
|
JUL - DEC: hatch-year
female |
Hatch-year
females are the palest of the age/sex classes in fall. They
usually lack any chestnut markings, and the primary coverts on a perched
bird appear grayish with minimal edging.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2005
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2008
The contrast between the primary coverts and greater
coverts is somewhat greater than on after-hatch-year birds, and the
primary coverts tend to have little or no blue edging.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2008
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), May 2008
The rectrices of
hatch-year birds are relatively narrow and tapered to a point.
Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2008
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
McGill Bird Observatory (QC), August 2005
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
