Juvenile males are very much like adult males. They shows a yellow fore-crown patch, but this is smaller and duller than on adult male. Overall plumage duller rather than glossy black, sometimes a suggestion of brown tones. White panel on back smaller and invariably slightly barred grey. Under-parts buff and more heavily barred and bars often heavier and bolder than on adults All juveniles show a rather short, wedged tail, especially noticeable in flight. This is due to all but the central two tail feathers being initially much shorter than on adults. Iris light red or pink rather than deep red as in adult. The photo here from Estonia (Mati Kose) shows an adult male tridactylus race with a male fledgling. Note the bright yellow fore-crown patch on the juvenile which makes it a male. This excellent photo was used on the cover of my book BIRDING IN EASTERN EUROPE (published by Wildsounds in 2006).
Monday, 10 September 2007
Three-toed Woodpecker: juvenile male ID
Juvenile males are very much like adult males. They shows a yellow fore-crown patch, but this is smaller and duller than on adult male. Overall plumage duller rather than glossy black, sometimes a suggestion of brown tones. White panel on back smaller and invariably slightly barred grey. Under-parts buff and more heavily barred and bars often heavier and bolder than on adults All juveniles show a rather short, wedged tail, especially noticeable in flight. This is due to all but the central two tail feathers being initially much shorter than on adults. Iris light red or pink rather than deep red as in adult. The photo here from Estonia (Mati Kose) shows an adult male tridactylus race with a male fledgling. Note the bright yellow fore-crown patch on the juvenile which makes it a male. This excellent photo was used on the cover of my book BIRDING IN EASTERN EUROPE (published by Wildsounds in 2006).
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