Posted by Rob Graham on September 30, 2010 at 11:41 PM
I've posted several photos this summer from the roadrunners who nested in the local cemetery this summer, producing 2 clutches. The second group fledged 3 weeks ago, and then all 3 young and both adults abruptly disappeared. For some reason the adults decided to raise the juveniles outside the cemetery. I finally saw this bird after a 3 week absence. At first I thought it was one of the juveniles because it seemed small. However, looking at the photos, there is a complete eye ring. I saw what I assume is the same bird plus a second similar sized bird tonight, so I'm thinking that they are the adults, and the juveniles have moved on. I cannot seem to find any definitive info on how long it takes a juvenile to develop the full eye ring. Does this bird appear to be an adult or juvenile (3 weeks fledged)? Is there a source that describes in detail the development of juvenile roadrunners? Thanks in advance.
Posted by Rob Graham on September 30, 2010 at 11:41 PM
Here is a close up of the head.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on October 1, 2010 at 1:37 AM
If you are a member of BNA (Birds of North America) you can access pretty much everything known about an North American breeding bird species. At $42 a year, it's a bargain. There's some samples you can try to see what you think.
I'd judge this to be hatch year bird. It's pretty light, with a lot of cinnamon coloring. There's still some juvenal plumage on the bird's butt (although in poor feeding conditions those can apparently hang around for 2-3 years). The birds look sleek and healthy; it doesn't appear stressed so as to interfere with or delay molt. I see some inverted "U" shapes in the primary coverts. It's hard to tell, but the tail feathers appear to be wedge-shaped instead of oblong. All that points to a hatch year bird.
The eye ring or extent of the eye ring isn't mentioned as an aging characteristic. Sorry.
Posted by Rob Graham on October 2, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Thanks for the input, Jim. These birds eat well, so no poor diet to delay molt. I saw a third roadrunner Friday afternoon, and it was clearly a juvenile. It was noticeably smaller than the other two I had seen in the previous days. Sure wish all 5 birds would make an appearance at once, to compare the adults to the juveniles :).
Discussion
3 repliesI'd judge this to be hatch year bird. It's pretty light, with a lot of cinnamon coloring. There's still some juvenal plumage on the bird's butt (although in poor feeding conditions those can apparently hang around for 2-3 years). The birds look sleek and healthy; it doesn't appear stressed so as to interfere with or delay molt. I see some inverted "U" shapes in the primary coverts. It's hard to tell, but the tail feathers appear to be wedge-shaped instead of oblong. All that points to a hatch year bird.
The eye ring or extent of the eye ring isn't mentioned as an aging characteristic. Sorry.