One of the most difficult challenges a birder is likely to face in the field is also one of the most common: identifying juvenile songbirds.
For many birds, juvenile plumage is different from any appearance later in life. It is often more camouflaged than adult plumage. And songbirds usually only show their plumage for a short time. Most begin to molt within a few weeks of leaving the nest. No wonder it is unknown even to experienced birders.
This article by identification expert Kenn Kaufman will help you. Illustrated with razor-sharp photos by Brian E. Small, it describes five juvenile songbirds, showing how different they can be from adults and highlighting principles and patterns you can apply to countless other species.
Kaufman was elected a member of the American Ornithologists’ Union in August 2013. He is the author of more than a dozen books on birds and other wildlife. His popular “ID Tips” column is a highlight of each issue of the fortnightly. Bird watching review.
Download our free guide to identifying juvenile birds now.
Free Download: Identify Juvenile Songbirds
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