just a question or two

today there were lots of Bluetits  on our 3 feeder around 25..now how can i tell male from female.. never really throught about before.. they were going mad at the fat balls and seed.. for around 1 1/2 hours..

 

next the SISKIN  today they seem to be back..not seem any this year  again  male /female..

dark top of head were the ones today..

 

Green finch i,m ok on and most of the others the pop in and out sorry to ask but as i said never really gave it a throught

 

lol jenny

Life without Nature I could not cope..Being keep locked away..from the forest.. I could not stand..

freedom till I die...

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  • Unknown said:
    today there were lots of Bluetits  on our 3 feeder around 25..now how can i tell male from female.. never really throught about before..

    I wouldn't worry about it too much.........................as long as they can tell the difference everything should be O.K.

    ND

    "Feed the birds, tuppence a bag" Mary Poppins

  • For some birds, there a no visible differences between the sexes.  The identification books say, "Sexes are similar" although "on average" the males are slightly brighter in colour

    All I can suggest is that you leave a TV remote control handset on the bird table.  The male will get to it first.

  • Diogenes said:
    All I can suggest is that you leave a TV remote control handset on the bird table.  The male will get to it first.

    very good Diogenes.

    As it has been said as long as they can tell :-)

    try here for greenfinch:

    http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/g/greenfinch/index.aspx#

    http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/

    Hey farmer, farmer, put away the D.D.T now. Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees, please!

  • Diogenes said:

    For some birds, there a no visible differences between the sexes.  The identification books say, "Sexes are similar" although "on average" the males are slightly brighter in colour

    All I can suggest is that you leave a TV remote control handset on the bird table.  The male will get to it first.

    Hahaha good idea!

  • Hi Jenny, in respect of Blue Tts, according to my RSPB book, the male has a much brighter blue cap than the female.

    Siskin, male has a black cap and chin while the female has a greyer cap. (source = same book).

     

    The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.

    The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!

  • Squirrel B said:

    Hi Jenny, in respect of Blue Tts, according to my RSPB book, the male has a much brighter blue cap than the female.

    Siskin, male has a black cap and chin while the female has a greyer cap. (source = same book).

     

    Yip, easy if they're both together, lol

  • Hi Jenny G, welcome to the forum.

    Sexing certain species of birds can be very difficult, certain species can only be sexed during the breeding season when the bird is the the hand. As a licensed ringer this makes it somewhat easier.

    As some of the other members have mentioned , colour plays a big part when identify birds in the field.

    Sexing BlueTits and a number of other species does take a good eye for detail and with practice sexing birds can be achieved at about a 80% success rate.

    You need to know which feathers of the bird to compare, for instance in Blue Tits the males Greater Coverts, Median Coverts, and Lesser Coverts are a deep ultramarine blue and feathers of the Crown are a deeper blue and darker than the females.

    The females Greater Coverts, Median Coverts, and Lesser Coverts are a medium blue with a greyish cast. The Crown is lighter and a greyer blue than the male.

    Sexing Siskins is also difficult especially first year juveniles. Adult birds can be separated using the Crown, the male normally has a black Crown, 1yr males sometimes have a dark grey Crown.

    The females Crown is normally green-grey and streaked dark.

    This is the best way I can advise to sex them, there are numerous other methods but again there used mainly by ringers.

    I hope this gives you some idea of the difficulties and the methods used to sex certain species, a lot of watching and note taking is also useful.

    Regards Buzzard

     

     

     

    Nature Is Amazing - Let Us Keep It That Way

  • Hi Buzzard,

    It all sounds very difficult for a beginner. Please could you tell me how to sex goldfinches?

    Cheers, Linda.

    See my photos on Flickr

  • Hi Sparrow,  It's something to do with their whiskers or fringes or something.  Much too tricky for me so I shall just describe mine as goldfinches (mixed)    ;-)

    There is something new to learn everyday...

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/

  • Diogenes said:
    All I can suggest is that you leave a TV remote control handset on the bird table.  The male will get to it first.

    Can you make sure you leave it somewhere visible, as we're not able to look for it if it is hidden.

    ND

    "Feed the birds, tuppence a bag" Mary Poppins

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