In Hand Ageing and Sexing Techniques:
Adrienne J. Leppold and Robert S. Mulvihill
Molt Pattern Shortcuts and Summaries
North American Bird Bander
Vol. 18 No. 1
Summaries of Molt Patterns for Passerines (and some near passerines)
- Know Where to Look• Consistencies within genera and families of birds
- Ageing shortcuts
CC/A1 Molt Limits Parulids
Black-throated Blue Warbler
CC/A1 Molt Limits Parulids
Northern Parula
Cerulean Warbler
CC/A1 Molt Limits Parulids
American Redstart
CC/A1 Molt Limits Vireos
Exceptions to the Rule (for CC/A1 moltlimits)
Common Yellowthroats and White-eyed Vireos can often have a more extensive molt including outer PP and inner SS.
CC/A1 Molt Limits
Emberizids
+ tertials
CC/A1 Molt Limits+ tertials
CC/A1 Molt Limits
Spizella and Melospiza Sparrows
+ tertials (and sometimes more)
GC Molt Limit
Turdid and Mimid Families
Gray-cheeked Thrush
GC Molt Limit
Turdid and Mimid Families
Swainson’s Thrush
GC Molt Limit Turdid and Mimid Families
Gray Catbird
GC Molt Limit Turdid and Mimid Families
Eastern Bluebird
GC Molt Limit Turdid and Mimid Families
American Robin
Often an extensive molt including all GC, CC, alula, tertials, additional inner secondaries and outer primaries
Cardinalids
Often an extensive molt including all GC, CC, alula, tertials, additional inner secondaries and outer primaries
Indigo Bunting
Complete or nearly complete molt
Icterids
Northern Cardinal
Swallows
Presence of molt limit = HY/SY
Absence of molt limit = U/AHY
Complete or nearly complete moltIcterids can retain underwing coverts
Complete or nearly complete moltIcterids can retain underwing coverts
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molt restricted to LC/MC = Difficult to age
Kinglets
A few “Tricks of the Trade”
A few “Tricks of the Trade”
American Goldfinch
A few “Tricks of the Trade”
Swamp Sparrow
A few “Tricks of the Trade”
Black-and-White Warbler
Swainson’s Thrush