A beginner’s guide to moult

Moult is an essential component of every bird’s life – but understanding it can be tricky. In this talk, I explain the basic principles of moult, the different moult strategies that various species employ, and how we – both as ringers and as birders – can use moult as a tool for ageing the birds that we see. Ideal for birders who want to get to grips with the general principals of moult.

(1 hour)

Talk: Moult, ageing and identification – from the hand to the field

A more specific overview of moult than the talk above, applying knowledge gained from birds in the hand to age birds in the field.

Ringing gives an unrivalled insight into feather-level details that help with identification, ageing and sexing; but birds aren’t always available to view at such close range. In this talk, we’ll explore moult, ageing and identification, and how features traditionally considered “in-hand only” can be used on birds in the field.

(90 minutes)

 Moult and ageing