|
Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) |
Seasonal
status at MBO:
| JAN
|
FEB
|
MAR
|
APR
|
MAY
|
JUN
|
JUL
|
AUG
|
SEP
|
OCT
|
NOV
|
DEC
|
|
|
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QUICK TIPS:
| 1) Look
at the greater coverts - the presence of buffy-white
shaft streaks indicates a HY/SY bird, however the
absence of buffy-white shaft streaks is NOT an
entirely reliable indicator of AHY/ASY, as some HY/SY
birds may lack these markings
2) Examine
the outermost primary (p10) - on HY/SY birds it
is rounded and 5 mm longer to 2 mm shorter than the
primary coverts, while on AHY/ASY birds it is
narrow, pointed, and 1 mm longer to 4 mm shorter than
the primary coverts
3) Look
at the shape of the rectrices - they are
tapered and relatively abraded on HY/SY birds, but
rounded and relatively fresh on AHY/ASY birds |
|
Ageing and sexing overview:
|
January - July: |
ASY - U
Broad and rounded rectrices; outermost primary (p10)
narrow and pointed. |
|
|
|
SY - U
Pale shaft streaks on outer greater coverts; rectrices
narrow, tapered, and relatively worn; p10 broad and rounded |
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RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
The overall plumage of Hermit Thrushes
usually provides little information about age or sex, but in some cases,
as in the photo below, distinctive pale tips can be seen on the retained
juvenal greater coverts, making such hatch-year birds readily
identifiable even when perched.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
October 2005
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, October 2005
When juvenal greater coverts with pale tips and/or
shaft streaks are retained, as in the photo below, a Hermit Thrush can
be quickly and reliably identified as a hatch-year. If these are
absent, the age can still be determined easily by the shape and length
of p10 (not visible in this photo).
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
October 2005
The photo below shows the
typical narrow and pointed shape of rectrices on a hatch-year Hermit
Thrush.
Photo by Marcel Gahbauer,
October 2005
RETURN TO AGE/SEX
OVERVIEW
|
