Coal Tits

Over the last couple of days I have caught 5 Coal Tits - 2 at Bulwell and 3 in my garden at Hucknall. Not that I`m complaining as they are stunning little birds.

As with many species a moult limit in the greater coverts can be used as ageing criteria, but sometimes this can be difficult to detect. However, this bird had obligingly moulted its greater coverts out of sequence making the difference between the new and the old feathers easy to detect. The 2 older greater coverts have a duller background colour, are longer, narrower, have browner edges and smaller less prominent white tips to the outer webs.
Mick P