[SBB] Mike Rogers on Sunnyvale phalaropes

["Tom Grey" <[[email protected]]>]

A couple of days ago, I posted a link to six phalarope pictures I took at
Sunnyvale WPCP last weekend, three each of RED-NECKED and WILSON'S. All
were in some stage of molt, and I wondered which were juveniles and which
adults. The pictures are the last six in the linked gallery, and I called
the birds RN 1.2. and 3, and W1, 2, and 3, in the order of their appearance
there.
http://www.pbase.com/tgrey/latest

Mike Rogers sent me the following analysis, which I'm posting here with his
permission -- thanks, Mike!

      "RN2 is clearly a juv, with buff streaked back and pale-edged
      tertials. RN1 looks like it has the same tertials and some hints at
juv-like
      back feathers - my guess would be a (nearly) first-basic bird. RN3
shows
      the clearer gray back of an adult. Additionally, you can see what
appears
      to be two generations of primaries, an apparent worn alternate
brownish
      feather inside fresh black outer primaries (is that the right molt
      sequence for RNPhal? Or could that be a retained tertial?) - in any
      event this suggests an adult bird."

      "The Wilson's all have retained old tertials, the first two with very
      fresh (pale-tipped) mantle feathers, the third molting in these new
      basic mantle feathers. The patterning of the retained tertials (and
      coverts of W3) suggests that all are HY birds to me (well/completely
      along to first basic plumage). Would be nice to have the upcoming
      Pyle guide to non-passerines to check all this! :)"


Tom Grey




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