Acrocephalus schoenobaenus - autumn

Sedge Warbler

AGE – BEST CRITERIA:


In 1cy, whole plumage is fresh, including whole wing and tail. Adult shows worn wing and tail. Moult contrasts in inner GC may be shown by both age classes. Colour of iris is supportive. 

1cy: 
  • Whole plumage (including wing and tail) is fresh. Signs of wear starts to show in tips of PP during mid or late autumn.
  • Colour of iris is rather cold brownish-grey.
2cy+:
  • Most of the plumage (including wing and tail) is worn, often notably so in GC, PC, TT, tips of PP and tail.
  • Colour of iris is warm brownish.

1cy August. LC, MC and GC are fresh (regardless wether juvenile or post-juvenile). [CV05158]

2cy+ August. More or less the whole wing, including LC, MC, GC, and PC, is worn. Note, however, the just visible newly moulted GC10. [CV05113]

1cy August. Uniform and typically fresh juvenile RR. [CP39954]

2cy+ August. Note the typically worn pre-breeding tail of adult. Right R1 is clearly older and more worn than the other RR, Either this feather was renewed earlier during last winter than rest of the tail, or (perhaps less likely) it is a retained/forgotten juvenile feather (wich, if true, would make this bird 2cy). [CP46946]

1cy August. The tips of the juvenile PP are typically fresh. [CP39775]

2cy+ August. The pre-breeding PP in adult birds are worn, with abrasion and bleach showing in the tips. [CP46946]

1cy August. The juvenile PC are typically fresh. [CV05159]

2cy+ August. The pre-breeding PC in adult birds are worn, with abrasion showing in tips and edges. [CV05196]

1cy Augusti, showing uniform and fresh juvenile TT. [CV05159]

2cy+ August. Adult birds show uniform and worn pre-breeing TT. [CP46946]

1cy August. Colour of iris is rather cold brownish-grey. [CV05159]

2cy+ August. Colour of iris is warm brown. [CP46946]

More Acrocephalus schoenobaenus:

Ageing spring
Moult

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