Shorebird molt illustrated by Drew Weber

Shorebird molt illustrated

by Drew Weber - July 24, 2008 - Identification, Migration - Tagged: shorebirds - no comments

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Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)

Check out the Dig Deep blog for a great primer on shorebird feather wear and molt. There are some great animated images that show the effects of wear on feathers and the overall appearance of the birds. With southbound migration just beginning, its a good time to brush up on this. The internet is an incredible resource, whether you’re reading up on ornithological news or the latest from the PartyPoker site, and you’ll find that blogs like Dig Deep are invaluable as sources of veteran-level information.

Learning about shorebird molt allows you to make one of the easiest observations about the migration phenomenon; adults and immatures often migrate at different times, or use slightly different paths on their southbound flights

So, this fall when you are scanning through flocks of shorebirds, try to record numbers of adults and juveniles. Maybe you will find out something new about your favorite shorebird spots.

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Drew Weber

I am a young ornithologist originally from PA but now living in central New York. I am pursuing a master's degree at Penn State University studying grassland birds and their relationships with different agricultural practices. When I am not working feverishly on my thesis, I enjoy adding new birds to my county, state and life lists, digiscoping and getting outdoors. I am active in the Pennsylvania birding community as chairman of the bird records committee, as well as a reviewer for sightings submitted to eBird. Some topics that really interest me are migration, bird distributions and vagrancy. Contact me if you have any questions about birds and birding in PA.