More Meadow Pipits

I managed to catch 14 more Meadow Pipits in Hucknall tonight including 2 adults. This provided a great opportunity to compare the ageing criteria with the juveniles caught on 28-09-10. The main things to note in adults are the uniform buff edges and tips to all the greater coverts, median coverts and tertials, the small "tooth" in the median coverts, the 'square' tips to the primary coverts and of course the broad rounded tail. The amount of abrasion to the feathers is also a useful thing to look at with the stronger, newer feathers of the adults being in far better condition
Mick P