Migration Research Foundation - McGill Bird Observatory - Photo Library

McGILL BIRD OBSERVATORY

PHOTO LIBRARY

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

Seasonal status at MBO:

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

common

fairly common

uncommon

rare

occasional

no records

QUICK TIPS:

1) Look at the tail - uniformly narrow and pointed rectrices OR contrastingly fresh and broad central rectrices are indicative of HY/SY, while uniformly broad and more rounded rectrices are typical of AHY/ASY, but beware that some individuals may replace their tail early, so this is less reliable for AHY/ASY

2) Check the outer primary coverts - they are relatively narrow and pointed with minimal pale brown edging on HY/SY birds, and relatively broad and rounded with fairly distinct pale brown edging on AHY/ASY birds

Note that, as is the case for many sparrows, a large percentage of intermediates cannot be reliably aged in spring.

Ageing and sexing guidelines:

January - July:

ASY - U Broad and rounded primary coverts, broad and fairly truncate rectrices.
SY - U Relatively narrow primary coverts, narrow and tapered rectrices.

June - December:

AHY - U Broad and rounded primary coverts, broad and fairly truncate rectrices.
HY - U Relatively narrow primary coverts, narrow and tapered rectrices.

Ageing and sexing details:

after-second-year unknown

Body plumage provides no useful information about age or sex. Sex can be determined only during the breeding season by brood patch or cloacal protuberance.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, May 2006

ASY Lincoln's Sparrows have broad and truncate primary coverts, usually with some distinct pale brown edging.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, May 2006

Rectrices of ASY birds are fairly broad, and tend to be in better condition than those of SY birds, though there can be considerable variation, and tails should not be used as a primary determinant of age.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, May 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

second-year unknown

Body plumage provides no useful information about age or sex. Sex can be determined only during the breeding season by brood patch or cloacal protuberance.

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, May 2006

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, May 2007

Look for primary coverts that are relatively narrow, and more tapered at the tip than on ASY birds.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, May 2007

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, May 2006

SY tails are quite narrow and pointed, and usually quite abraded.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, May 2007

Photo by Barbara Frei, May 2006

RETURN TO AGE/SEX OVERVIEW

after-hatch-year unknown

Body plumage provides no useful information about age or sex. Sex can be determined only during the breeding season by brood patch or cloacal protuberance.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, September 2007

Photo by Seabrooke Leckie, September 2006

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, September 2005

AHY Lincoln's Sparrows have broad and truncate primary coverts, usually with some distinct pale brown edging.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, September 2007

Photo by Seabrooke Leckie, September 2006

Photo by Marcel Gahbauer, September 2005

Rectrices of AHY birds are fairly broad, and tend to be in better condition than those of HY birds, though there can be considerable variation, and tails should not be used as a primary determinant of age.

Photo by Marie-Anne Hudson, September 2007