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