Matt Griffiths
ad. ♂ Blackcap
Hello all,
I was wondering if anyone knows much about ageing Night Herons, specifically the differences between second-winter/summer birds and adults. I'm pretty sure one I found at my local lakes recently is an adult, as during good views of it in flight I couldn't make out any brownishness in the plumage, including the dark crown and saddle, though I don't know how obvious this brown element should be in a flying bird. A birdwatcher/twitcher (don't know how reliable he is) apparently had a really good view of it today and thought it had brown in its plumage. On a couple of occasions I've been able to see that the bird has the long light-coloured nape-feathers - would a 2s have these feathers? Thanks in advance.
Matt
I was wondering if anyone knows much about ageing Night Herons, specifically the differences between second-winter/summer birds and adults. I'm pretty sure one I found at my local lakes recently is an adult, as during good views of it in flight I couldn't make out any brownishness in the plumage, including the dark crown and saddle, though I don't know how obvious this brown element should be in a flying bird. A birdwatcher/twitcher (don't know how reliable he is) apparently had a really good view of it today and thought it had brown in its plumage. On a couple of occasions I've been able to see that the bird has the long light-coloured nape-feathers - would a 2s have these feathers? Thanks in advance.
Matt
