Hi everyone,
Attached is a picture of martins staying at their house that I took this evening. Do you think the female on the left is a sub-adult? She appears to be lighter in markings than the female on the right. Your thoughts? I know the SYs usually arrive later in the season. Let me know.
Thanks,
Jerry
Can it be that I have a sub-adult already??
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Doug Martin - PA
- Posts: 1988
- Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am
- Location: Pennsylvania/Fombell
- Martin Colony History: First pair in 2009 after 28 years of trying. 3 pairs 2010, 17 pairs 2011 and 35-45 pairs since. Many additional colonies are now springing up around mine in an area once completely void of Martins. I offer 50 compartments at my site consisting of primarily Excluder II gourds on Gemini racks. Also a wooden T-14. I utilize electric fence type predator guards on the base of the poles. Supplemental feeding is crucial in maintaining my colony. I platform feed throughout the season as needed. My site tends to be a stop over point for additional birds as they migrate further north.
Jerry,
Nice to see your Martins there. House looks great.
The key to a SY female is at the underneath of the base of the tail with no grey feathers. Just white feathers.
Sure would be early for one. Hard to tell from that photo.
Nice to see your Martins there. House looks great.
The key to a SY female is at the underneath of the base of the tail with no grey feathers. Just white feathers.
Sure would be early for one. Hard to tell from that photo.
Supplemental feeding plays a major role in Western Pennsylvania. Finally got my 1st pair in 2009 after 28 years of effort. The colony has grown quickly to 45 pairs that I care for. Many new colonies have now sprung up around me in the past few years as well. Where there was none.... there is many.
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Dave Duit
- Posts: 2145
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2003 2:02 pm
- Location: Iowa / Nevada
- Martin Colony History: In 2024, 82 pair with 350 fledged youngsters. 110 total cavities available, 82 Troyer Horizontal gourds and a homemade PVC / metal 28 compartment unit, 1 fallout shelter. Hawk and owl guards included. Martin educator and speaker. President and founder of the Iowa Purple Martin Organization. Please visit Iowa Purple Martin Organization on Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1627283871068161 Emails send to daveduit@yahoo.com. Subject line include Iowa Purple Martin.
Doug is right on with his info. Here is additional info from the PMCA when Identifying sub adult or adult females.
*Adult females have more purple on their head and back than subadult females. Their undertail feathers are much darker than subadults—all brown/grey feathers with a white rim on the outer edge. They will not have any purplish feathers on their chest, belly, or undertail.
*Subadult females have a much lighter purple to brownish color on their back feathers. The undertails are all white or light-colored feathers with brown pinstripes down the center.
I vote for a sub adult on the left, due to the appearance of pinstripes down the center and less dark on the chest and belly. Also appears to lack darker region around the throat area like that seen in the adult females.
*Adult females have more purple on their head and back than subadult females. Their undertail feathers are much darker than subadults—all brown/grey feathers with a white rim on the outer edge. They will not have any purplish feathers on their chest, belly, or undertail.
*Subadult females have a much lighter purple to brownish color on their back feathers. The undertails are all white or light-colored feathers with brown pinstripes down the center.
I vote for a sub adult on the left, due to the appearance of pinstripes down the center and less dark on the chest and belly. Also appears to lack darker region around the throat area like that seen in the adult females.
Thanks Dave. I look at her again and again and I am positive it is a sub adult female. She is so much lighter that the other females and the white under her tail really stands out. I'm going to date it as a sub adult female on my record keeping form.