Bombycilla garrulus - sexing

Bohemian Waxwing

SEXING – BEST CRITERIA:

  • The design of throat patch is the most reliable character and is sufficient for sexing most birds.
  • The number of waxy tips in SS is of little use for adults as there is much overlap. For young birds, however, it can be fairly reliable.
  • In adults, the design of the ‘hooks’ of the PP is a solid supporting character.
  • The size of the yellow tips of RR is another supporting character.

Male (1cy, November). Distinct limit between black throat patch and buff breast. Intense black throat patch with negligible grey-buff feathers. [3630904]

Female (1cy, November). Diffuse limit, with some grey-buff feathers in the black throat patch. Less intense black. [3630906]

Male (2cy+, November). An obvious male. [3630927]

Female (1cy, November). Variation. Showing quite intense black and little grey for a female. Nevertheless, throat patch limit very diffuse. [3630976]

Male (1cy, October). Variation. Showing an atypical pattern in the throat-patch limit that may be mistaken as a diffuse limit. [3614406]

Female (2cy+, November). Variation. Showing a less diffuse throat patch limit than typical. Nevertheless not as distinct as in males, and black colour is less intense. [3630984]

Male, 2cy+ November. In general ad birds show more (and larger) red waxy ornamental tips in SS than young birds, and males more (and larger) than females. Counting the red waxy tips is of limited use for sexing ad, as the overlap is large. The overlap is much less for young birds, so this criteria works fine as a supporting character. Ad males show 6 to 8 waxy tips. [3630907]

Female, 2cy+ November. Ad females show 5 to 8 waxy tips. [3630981]

Male, 1cy November. Juv male SS show 5 to 7 waxy tips. 4 tips is possible but rare. [3630967]

Female, 1cy November. Juv female SS show 0 to 5 waxy tips. 6 tips is possible but rare. [3630976]

Male, 2cy+ November. Such wide hooks on PP tips is a very strong indication that the bird is male. [3630927]

Female, 2cy+ November. In ad females, typically narrow hooks. [3630917]

Male, 2cy+ November. Showing variation. Fairly narrow hooks for a male. [3630918]

Female, 2cy+ November. Some ad females show very reduced and ‘broken’ hooks. If there is no trace of a hook on P3 (i.e. no white on the inner vane), the bird is a female. [3630915]

Male, 2cy+ November. Large yellow tips to RR. Beware that this character is subject to much individual variation. [3630927]

Female, 2cy+ November. Typically smaller yellow tips to RR than males. [3630917]

Male, 1cy November. Usually, large yellow tips to RR. [3630967]

Female, 1cy November. Small yellow tips to RR. [3630949]

More Bombycilla garrulus:

Ageing autumn
Moult

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