Aging Bobwhite Quail

(Colinus virginianus) by Wings

Information Source: South Carolina Agricultural Educationwww.scaged.org

Determining Age

LOOK FOR:

1) Color of the primary covert feathers

2) Molting and replacement of primary feathers of their wings.

Buffy-tipped primary = juvenile quailAbsence of buffy-tipped primary coverts = adult

bird

Wing Parts

Primary feathers

Primary coverts Alula feathers

Juvenile

Buffy-colored tips of the primary coverts.

Buffy-tipped primary coverts (juvenile)

Adult

Absence of buffy-tipped primary coverts.

No buffy-tipped primary coverts (adult)

Primary Feathers

Primaries are also called flight feathers. They are numbered from 10 to 1 starting from

the outside and counting in.

10

98

76 5 4 3 2 1

Primary feathers

Primary coverts Alula feathers

Feather Molt

Primaries are molted and replaced starting with #1. Primaries #9 & #10 are not molted until the bird is an adult.

10

98

76 5 4 3 2 1

Primary feathers

Primary coverts Alula feathers

Adult in Molt

The absence of buffy-tipped coverts reveal that this bird is an adult even though the #8 primary is being replaced

No buffy-tipped primary coverts (adult)

#8 primary being replaced