Moult, ageing and sexing of European Hoopoe, Bee-eater, Kingfisher and woodpeckers

The moults of the smaller non-passerine landbirds differ substantially from those of most passerines, and so do the ageing criteria based on plumage characters. Sexing criteria may apply before the post-juvenile moult or appear only after. Again, knowing their moults is important. Here we describe the moults of the Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops, European Bee-eater Merops apiaster, Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis ispida and A. a. atthis, Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla, Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major, White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos, European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis, and Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus. For these species and some more woodpecker species (Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus, Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocoptes medius, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dryobates minor, Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius) we provide plumage criteria for ageing and sexing, illustrated with graphs and photos. A particular feature of these species is the delayed moult of the primary coverts which provides reliable ageing criteria, and even the opportunity to age birds beyond the second year of life.

Naturhistorisches Museum Basel
Moravian Museum
Schweizerische Vogelwarte Sempach
Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology