Red Kite moult (1 Viewer)

[jforgham]

Evening all,
Took this photo today in a private wood in East Herts. Firstly, can anyone age the bird by its moulting? Secondly, I'm somewhat concerned to note circular holes through wing feathers as well as the obvious cuts in the primaries that seem to be on both wings. Any suggestions as to how these may have occurred?
Thanks for any comments,
Jono

 

[Keith Dickinson]

The feather damage is sadly completely obvious - some **** has taken a potshot at the bird. As to ageing the bird looking through my books unless it is last years chick it is very difficult to be sure on the age from plumage

 

[jforgham]

That was my gut reaction when first seeing it overhead. I know most of the gamekeepers around the parish and certainly I can't imagine any of them being responsible. However, I shall send photos etc to the landowner, but red kites roam large areas. I am doing a complete natural history survey on this estate over the next 6 months, so shall be able to keep an eye on this particular bird.
Thanks for confirmation, Keith.
cheers,
Jono

 

[tconzemi]

It's a second cal. year bird with whitish ground color of breast feathers

 

[jforgham]

I was wondering if it was a bird that appeared last year as a juvenile and could be a new breeding record for the area? That would fit as it may well be the same bird, it's regularly recorded around here by several birders and now I'm on site regularly should be easy to keep a record of its movements. Many thanks.
best regards,
Jono

 

[Samuel Perfect]

Are gunshot pellets really a definite reason for the tattered primaries? It certainly looks like a credible explanation but can wear also produce the same effect? I've also seen fairly similar looking broken and slightly damaged primaries in the wing feathers of local birds in West Herts.

 

[jforgham]

Not a definite answer, Sam but the circular holes look rather suspect. However, the rips in the primaries are very symmetrical so may have got tangled in branches etc.
Cheers,
Jono

 

[lou salomon]

...and just to add: there is no moult going on in primaries; all 20 feathers are juvenile.

 

[Biancone]

Are gunshot pellets really a definite reason for the tattered primaries? It certainly looks like a credible explanation but can wear also produce the same effect? I've also seen fairly similar looking broken and slightly damaged primaries in the wing feathers of local birds in West Herts.

I don't think we can be certain the visible feather damage is gun-related. Primary flight feathers are quite likely to show damage like this after almost a year of accidental contact with tree branches and possibly ground obstructions. I think the fact there are no visible holes in the secondaries, only the more vulnerable primaries, suggests natural damage is a more likely cause. I detest morons with shotguns more than many birders do, but wouldn't want to blame them unnecessarily.

 

[Southern Frogmouth]

I don't think we can be certain the visible feather damage is gun-related. Primary flight feathers are quite likely to show damage like this after almost a year of accidental contact with tree branches and possibly ground obstructions. I think the fact there are no visible holes in the secondaries, only the more vulnerable primaries, suggests natural damage is a more likely cause. I detest morons with shotguns more than many birders do, but wouldn't want to blame them unnecessarily.

I agree, what look like holes are likely to be tears, much like those on the distal parts of the other primaries, but their true extent and shape has been altered/obscured by overlapping adjacent feathers. Given that juvenile feathers are normally weaker than subsequent generations of feathers the wear and tear is not surprising. I would also think that inexperienced birds are more likely to suffer this sort of damage as well.

Cheers

Roy

 

[Samuel Perfect]

I agree, what look like holes are likely to be tears, much like those on the distal parts of the other primaries, but their true extent and shape has been altered/obscured by overlapping adjacent feathers.

That's exactly why I doubted them being gunshot holes

 

[andydrewandrew]

about how far is this bird from you?

 

[FalconBirder]

I agree with Biancone, this does not appear to be gunshot damage but standard wear and tear to the tips of the outer primary feathers of a 2cy Kite after almost a year of use. Moreover, it seems virtually impossible for gunshot to have damaged both wingtips only.

I believe the bird is showing active moult, which has typically commenced at the junction of the primaries and secondaries. In fact, contrary to Lou's statement, I believe that P2 on the bird's right wing is missing.

Please compare the subject bird to the attached photo of a juvenile taken in Spain in late October. The wing feathers of the latter are in almost perfect condition with no gaps and a smooth contour along the trailing edge. But even this younger bird already has minor damaged to the webs near the tips of P6, P7 and P8.