Ageing and sexing Marsh Tits Poecile palustris using wing length and moult

Broughton, Richard K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6838-9628; Hinsley, Shelley A.; Bellamy, Paul E.; Carpenter, Jane E.; Rothery, Peter. 2008 Ageing and sexing Marsh Tits Poecile palustris using wing length and moult. Ringing & Migration, 24 (2). 88-94.

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Abstract/Summary

Ageing and sexing Marsh Tits Poecile palustris presents some difficulties for ringers. Wing length has previously been found to be useful for sexing English Marsh Tits, although the replacement of all juvenile rectrices and greater coverts by first-year birds made ageing difficult. We examined Marsh Tits of known age and sex and found that 93.5% of birds could be sexed correctly using wing lengths of ≤ 62 mm for females and ≥ 63 mm for males. Wing length was also an indicator of age: many first-years had shorter wings, but most also retained some juvenile rectrices and greater coverts after the post-juvenile moult, and could be readily aged using these features. We found a primary moult period of 67 days for adult Marsh Tits, with a mean onset of 27 May.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Biodiversity > BD01 Conservation and Restoration of Biodiversity > BD01.3 Population and community processes
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Pywell
ISSN:	0307-8698
Additional Keywords:	Ringing, Ornithology
NORA Subject Terms:	Zoology Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	02 Dec 2008 11:43 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/5017

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