Plectrophenax nivalis - sexing autumn

Snow Bunting

SEXING:

After completion of the post-juvenile moult a vast majority can be sexed based on the pattern and coloration of the underside of PP and upper wing coverts. Coloration of mantle, rump and head is useful as well.  Note that intermediates may occur, mainly involving 1cy males and adult females. Make sure to use more than one criterion, and always start with ageing.

Male, 1cy, November. Quite distinct margin between darker grey and white under PP and SS. Note that this is a pale (female-like) individual, and most males show more distinct contrast than this. [3218283]

Female, 1cy, November, showing a rather faded and indistinct margin between light grey and white under PP and SS. [3218289]

Male, 2cy+, November. Sharp contrast between blackish and white under PP and SS. [3218310]

Female, 2cy+, November, showing a rather faded and indistinct margin between light grey and white under PP and SS.[3218275]

Male, 1cy, November. A rather dark male with blotchy GC and more extensive black than usual in MC and LC, resembling a pale female. Most 1cy males appear whiter than this, rather similar to adult males. [3218288]

Female, 1cy, November. Female showing a paler wing than average, with more extensive white tips on GC, MC and LC (although still far from most males). [3218269]

Male, 2cy+, November. Adult male with pure white wing-c. [3218310]

Female, 2cy+, November. A rather typical female showing extensive dark centres to GC, MC and LC. [3218275]

Male, 1cy, November. A typical young male with white in both inner and outer webs of PC. Adult females may approach this pattern but never show this extensive white in GC, MC and LC.[3218304]

Male, 1cy, November. A dark male with extensive black in PC. Adult females often have patterns resembling this (or even whiter). Note, however, pure white LC and MC. [3218253]

Female, 1cy, November. Typical young female with very little or no visible white in PC. [3218272]

Female, 1cy, November, showing all dark PC. [3218279]

Male, 2cy+, November. Pure white PC with contrasting and distinct black tips, black AL and bases to PP. [3218310]

Female, 2cy+, November. A dark bird, and many adult females show pale portions to the PC (see 1cy male 3218304 above). [3218275]

Male, 1cy, November. In males, many or most of the feathers of the head and neck, including crown and ear-c, show white bases (tipped brown or buff-brown).[3218283]

Female, 1cy, November. Some feathers on head and neck may be off-white but based grey and broadly tipped brown or buff-brown. [3218289]

Male, 2cy+, November. Most feathers of head and neck, including crown and ear-c, are white, tipped brown or buffish.[3218310]

Female, 2cy+, November. Some feathers on head and neck may be whitish or off-white but based grey and broadly tipped brown or buff-brown. [3218275]

More Plectrophenax nivalis:
Ageing autumn
Moult

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