AGE – BEST CRITERIA:

• Most birds include 4-8 inner GC in the post-juvenile moult. In males, the contrast to the outer juvenile GC is striking (black against rusty olive-brown). In females, the fresh inner post-juvenile coverts are slightly darker and colder olive-brown, in contrast to outer, shorter and more rusty-brown juvenile coverts. In birds that included all GC in the post-juvenile moult, the contrast is seen towards the still juvenile rusty olive-brown PC.
• Juvenile RR are generally slightly more worn, narrow and more pointed, but difficult birds are sometimes seen. The structure is often helpful, with the juvenile feathers being slightly less dense, less glossy and somewhat paler brownish. A few birds include single, or several, RR in the post-juvenile moult, showing two generations of RR.
• Juvenile PC are often slightly more rusty, narrower, less dense and more loose/frayed than in adult. The difference is obvious in males but more subtle (but still rather clear) in females.
• Most birds show uniformly juvenile TT, but some have included single or all three (and rarely also inner SS) feathers. The assessment of the TT follow the same pattern as above: Obvious in males, while the female tertial generations are coloured as described for the GC.

• Whole plumage fresh, lacking moult contrasts.
• GC, PC and TT are dense, fresh and black (males) or olive-brown (females).
• RR are generally slightly broader, more blunt tipped and often in better condition.