Caprimulgus europaeus

European Nightjar

Main author: Gabriel Norevik, January 2015.
Citation: Ottenby Bird Observatory. 2015. Ringers’ DigiGuide – Caprimulgus europaeus. www.ringersdigiguide.ottenby.se

MOULT

                     Adult         Young

Summer       sp              sp

Winter          WC*           WC*

Young sp: The post-juvenile moult includes a variable amount of head and body feathers (and sometimes even inner primaries) but some, in particular individuals from late broods, appear to moult less extensively.
Young WC: The pre-breeding moult is complete and include the whole body. Some individuals arrest the moult and then show two generations of feathers. These moult contrasts are usually found among the alula feathers, LC, MC, GC or SS.
Adult sp: The post-breeding moult (from late July and onwards) includes a variable amount of head and body feathers and occasionally some rectrices.
Adult WC: The pre-breeding moult is complete and include the whole body. Some individuals arrest the moult and then show two generations of feathers. These moult contrasts are usually found among the alula feathers, LC, MC, GC or SS.

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