Pair of Reed Bunting regular visitor to floor around feeders and curlew calling for first time on moor. The "immature" male Sparrowhawk was back again and lets me get fairly close. Does anyone know when an immature male would get adult plumage-this bird is female coloured but very small (male sized)???
it should have started getting just a few slate blue feathers scattered around on the body during last winters body moult but you prob wont see them. It will do a complete moult of all feathers later this summer which should see it t turning more adult slate blue. Watch out for a hint of red in the eye iris (males) as females eyes tend to stay yellow until really old aged.
-- Edited by C Bel on Saturday 20th of March 2021 08:00:28 AM
Cheers Craig that's helpful I,ll check the eyes next time. I,ve looked at the photos I have of it in the pond and cant see any grey then again it was wet . it has prominent white spots on its primaries which seems to be a juvenile feature. I,m guessing it wont breed until next year though given the young female peregrine at Rochdale last year who knows-thanks again
