In the bird watching, bird banding, falconry, or any bird-related community, there are age class terms that all people use. Some terms have a specific definition, some are more general, and some are specific only in certain instances. The fact that some terms only have one meaning while others can have several meanings is the […]
Terminology Mix-ups Read More »
I want to comment on something that is difficult to see in the field but often obvious in close-up photos. For many raptors, eye color differs between juveniles and adults. This is true for Bald Eagles, female Harriers, accipiters, many buteos, and a few other species to a lesser degree. Birds such as falcons have
Eye Color Usually Matches Molt Read More »
I was reminded recently of a raptor tidbit and wanted to get your thoughts… I had heard long ago (yikes, 30 years ago) that most birds with whitish or pale primaries and secondaries have black tips to these feathers (not all do, of course) because the melanin in the dark part of the feather helps
One interesting aspect of raptors is how eye color changes as birds age from juvenile to adult. In some raptors, eye color takes a shorter time to change than in others, and sometimes this is even related to the sex of the bird, as males will typically change quicker than females. Certain species take as
Eye Color in Raptors Read More »
A conversation I had a while back made me think to discuss a certain topic in a blog post. You often hear that juvenile Northern Goshawks have “uneven” tail bands compared to the similar Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks that show even tail bands. And, for the most part, this is true, along with a few
Juvenile Goshawk “Uneven” Tail Bands Read More »
