Fringilla montifringilla - sexing spring

Brambling

SEXING:

After completion of post-juvenile moult, readily sexed based on the colour of crown feathers. A few birds, probably females, are more intermediate, showing slight orange. Svensson (1992) gives some further clues concerning such birds.

Male, 2cy, April. Pattern of LC very variable, but the bird shown here shows a common pattern with LC largely coloured in vivid orange with small dark spotting. [1ET29443]

Male, 2cy, April. This male is darker (more female-like) with more dark-centred LC than average, but still easily told from females. [1ET29517]

Male, 3cy+, April. LC vividly orange, with no or few dark spots. [1ET29460]

Female, 3cy+, April. LC with dark centres and rather broad rusty (or rusty-orange) tips. [1ET29433]

Male, 2cy, April. Feathers of head and cheek with jet-black bases, variably concealed by pale tips depending on degree of wear during winter. [1ET29443]

Female, 3cy+, April. Feathers of head and cheek with dark brown and grey bases. [1ET29458]

More Fringilla montifringilla:
Ageing spring
Ageing autumn
Sexing autumn
Moult

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