Ring size D.
SEXING
Birds in summer plumage can sometimes be sexed during our autumn catching period, MALE have few whitish fringes to breast feathers whilst FEMALE shows many white fringes. On under-tail coverts MALE has small brown bars whilst FEMALE has largish brown bars.
Look out for adult birds with arrested moult.
AGEING CALENDAR
| July | Most birds will be FIRST SUMMER birds (EURING age code 5) in winter plumage and heavily in moult. A few ADULTS will arrive towards the end of the month and will be in summer plumage with worn primaries. |
| August | ADULTS will have variable amounts of summer plumage and will be starting to moult primaries. FIRST SUMMER: Will be in winter plumage and completing wing moult. |
| September | ADULTS: will be in wing and body moult with remnants of summer plumage. FIRST SUMMER: will be in winter plumage, coming to the end of their wing moult and may not be able to be measured. JUVENILE: begin to arrive towards the end of month will be heavily spotted with pale gold on coverts and upperparts. Underparts have more extensive brown barring than adults. |
| October | ADULTS: will be finishing their moult many will be in winter plumage. FIRST SUMMER: will be indistinguishable from adults that have completed their moult. JUVENILE: will be heavily spotted with pale gold on coverts and upperparts. Underparts have more extensive brown barring than adults |
| November / December | ADULTS: Fresh winter type plumage. JUVENILE: will be heavily spotted with pale gold on coverts and upperparts. Underparts have more extensive brown barring than adults. |