General description:

There is no extensive moult going on in 3cy birds during this month. The winter head streaking, which was obvious and concentrated on the ear-coverts, around the eye and up to the crown by September and October, has been worn away by mid winter, leaving an almost snow-white appearance. The most prominent streaking on the under-parts is the breast-band. 

Moult stage and pace of remiges and rectrices:

The primaries and secondaries are all second generation now, as are the rectrices. The white tips of the tail-feathers are worn way, half a year after they were moulted.

Timing and strategy of moult in January

Basically, the wing-coverts are at least second generation in January. However, michahellis is a taxon which often includes wing-coverts in the partial moult. Hence, many birds show third or even fourth generation wing-coverts (often in the same tracts as 1cy birds show second generation coverts; see michahellis 1cy October). Subsequently, the wing-coverts are a mix of fresh coverts with obvious white tips and older second generation coverts. Normally, the older coverts can be found in the carpal edge (outer lesser coverts) and the outer greater coverts. The inner median and inner lower lesser coverts may look more adult-like, sometimes plain grey in 3cy michahellis in January. However, these grey third and fourth generation feathers may still show a delicate diffuse brown pattern.

Normally, most of the scapulars are plain grey now. Some old barred third generation feathers may still be visible, often in the rear row of the lowest lower scapulars (just above the scapular coverts). See Topography Section for explanation of feather tracts.

Movements

By April, only very few 3cy michahellis can be found along the coasts of SW Netherlands and NW France. The majority remains at lower latitudes. Those which are present at Etaples (about 5-10 individuals by April 30 2003), probably belong to michahellis from the colonies of Marseille and the Mediterranean coast.

Tables

No tables.