A good idea, worth sharing. Jim Williams Wayzata Begin forwarded message:
From: "Cutright.Noel" <[email protected]> Date: November 28, 2005 1:00:30 PM CST To: "Wisconsin Birding Network" <[email protected]> Subject: [wisb] Age and sex for Snowy Owls With the number of Snowy Owl observations being posted, I thought it would be good if we could start noticing their plumage to determine age and sex of these birds. The following is from The Birds of North America series; the SO account was prepared by Parmelee 1992. Adult males are noticeably smaller and paler than adult females; immatures most heavily marked as a rule. Basic I plumage: First-year males with white bib of 2-8 cm present and back of head primarily white. First-year females with barring present in all areas of plumage except for white facial disk, tarsi, feet and wing linings; white bib, if present, less than 4 cm and back of head primarily barred. Females also show more rows of bars on underside (6 rows) and upperside (3 or more rows) of tail than do males (3 or fewer rows). Both sexes show moderate or extensive mottling on distal portions of greater and/or median secondary coverts. Basic II plumage: not clearly defined, specimens examined showed mixed characteristics of first-year and adult birds. (these are second year birds) Definitive Basic plumage: Plumage of adult males entirely white or white except for narrow, sparse, pale gray, or brown barring on breast, back, wings, head and.or tail. Plumage of adult female with moderate ro extensive barring present on breast, wings, head, and/or tail; little if any mottling on distal portions of greater and/or median secondary coverts; white bib of less than 8 cm present and/or back of head primarily white. The darkest males and the palest females are virtually alike in color, but the whitest birds, sometimes practically pure white, are always males, and the most heavily barred ones are always females. Noel Cutright, Ozaukee County ############################## This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list <[email protected]>. To UNSUBSCRIBE, E-mail to <[email protected]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[email protected]> Send administrative QUERIES, E-mail to <[email protected]>
