Mistle Thrush ageing. (1 Viewer)

[Brett Richards]

Can this Mistle Thrush, photographed today (29 January) at Flamborough, England, be aged? Although the two outer greater coverts are shorter than the rest, they look much too short for retained juvenile feathers, especially the outermost, and they also look fresher than the rest, instead of more worn. They look like newly growing adult feathers, perhaps making this a 1w bird, but they shouldn't be growing at this time of year.

Brett

 

[Tote]

Hi Brett,
juvenile GC are usually shorter than adult GC and when folded can look this way.
Looking deep into the photo I can make out three short outer GC, fringed subtly whiter than the long, moulted adult GC.
Also, the visible alula feather looks browner than the rest. I'd labelled It as a first winter bird.

 

[Brett Richards]

Hi Brett,
juvenile GC are usually shorter than adult GC and when folded can look this way.
Looking deep into the photo I can make out three short outer GC, fringed subtly whiter than the long, moulted adult GC.
Also, the visible alula feather looks browner than the rest. I'd labelled It as a first winter bird.

Thanks Tote

I hadn't spotted the short 3rd outermost.

Brett