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        Discussion Area 討論區 >> General 一般問題 >>  how old is a bird?
        
(Message started by: klinsmann on May 7^th, 2003, 7:59pm)

Title: how old is a bird?
Post by klinsmann on May 7^th, 2003, 7:59pm

can anyone tell me how to distinguish a bird's age? such as we can determine the age of a fish by looking at its earbone....

Title: Re: how old is a bird?
Post by Alex_Tung on May 7^th, 2003, 8:30pm

Hi Klinsmann,

In general, from the difference of colour and pattern of their feathers, we can distinguish juvenile, sub-adult and adult bird. For a certain kinds of species, e.g. Gulls, their colours of feather enable us to distinguish 1st winter or 2nd winter bird

For some species, the male and female have a different appearances, and the juvenile (no matter male or felmale) would look like the adult female.

Some juvenile would have a paler feather colour comparing with adult.

All the above depend on different species. Suggest you to look for reference books for a particular species.

But I think it is rather difficult for us to determine the acutal age of birds once they have become an adult.

Any experienced birder can help on this?

Hope this help

By the way, are you Ah Leung? ;D

Tung

Title: Re: how old is a bird?
Post by Samson So on May 7^th, 2003, 10:03pm

Another way to determine the age is bird banding (or bird ringing). 鳥友A had posted an interesting link on 26th April. You can have a look.

Title: Re: how old is a bird?
Post by klinsmann on May 7^th, 2003, 10:11pm

yup..ah tung... i am ah leung..haha

Title: Re: how old is a bird?
Post by Captain on May 9^th, 2003, 9:45am

Or you can check their ID cards or simply ask them directly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~Kidding