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GWE & Blackcaps

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Lionel Bidwell is the latest reported sighting of a GWE at WWT Caerlaverock.

At home this morning, the wandering "pair" of Blackcap in Mainsriddle again. They really like the conference pears, which I've sliced up a bit to help. Blue Tits, Robins & Blackbirds also seem to relish them! The brown cap Blackcap seems to be undergoing a head moult, so I'm wondering whether it's a young male, tagging along with an experienced adult?

Any views?

P

Comments

DGBN said…
After the breeding season, adult Blackcaps undergo a complete moult. An adult male will replace its old black crown feathers with new black ones and an adult female will replace its old brown crown feathers with new brown ones. As you say, the bird in your garden is not an adult male. Juvenile Blackcaps undergo a partial moult which includes the replacement of all their brown crown feathers. By now, most, if not all, juvenile males will have at least some black second generation crown feathers. If the crown has black ones showing amongst the old brown ones then it is a juvenile male. If it is a juvenile female then it is hard to distinguish between the new and the old brown feathers, so ageing can be difficult. If the flight feathers look worn and shabby, then it will almost certainly be a juvenile. This can also be used to age males that have completed their crown moult. Duncan Irving.
31 October 2025 at 17:30
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