... some different age birds in the flock with the bird on the left showing upper wing coverts having little contrast - so ageing it as a juvenile. While the right hand side bird - an adult - shows a much crisper pattern with clear white tips and narrow black bands on the wing coverts ...
On a dull drizzly day in the garden around half a dozen Bramblings were at the feeders ... and posing some interesting age / gender questions ...
... two females on left and centre with nice pale grey/brown faces while the right hand side bird shows the mottly black/brown head typical of winter plumage before the black head develops in spring. The centre bird appears to have greater coverts of two separate generations ( indicated ) which makes it a 1st winter bird.
The bird below has nice bright plain orange lesser coverts ( top line ) ... and very uniform greater coverts ( lower line ) . so an adult male.
... unlike the bird below which has lesser coverts with dark centres ( indicated ) but uniform greater coverts ... so an adult female.
... these two below show differing greater coverts ... the left bird has two generations making it a 1stW and the right bird has uniform greater coverts and so is an adult ...
... this lovely adult male is showing quite a black head for such an early date ...
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