On Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:55:56 -0500
Matt Hafner <> wrote:

> As for whether the bird lost the tail feathers through molt or
> trauma, I don't know.  I assumed it was trauma-related on Saturday,
> but the timing is reasonable for molt as Le Conte's are known to
> migrate in juvenal plumage. 
> 
> Hopefully someone with more knowledge and readily accessible
> resources can chime in.  

Matt,

Le Conte's Sparrow's Juvenal plumage (July to November) has distinct,
fine streaking across upper breast (retained through October).  It also
lacks rich orange tones on head and breast.

This bird as a few streaks left on its upper breast which is consistent
with a hatch-year bird and is not consistent with an older individual.

The first pre-basic molt occurs Aug-Dec and is partial.  It can occur
either before or after migration.  This molt includes all median and
greater coverts and 2 to 3 tertials.  Tail feathers are only molted in
30 percent of hatch-year birds and then only 1 or 2 central tail
feathers.

Adults do not have streaks on their breast and molt their tails July to
Sept, usually on the summering grounds.

Trauma is the likely reason this bird lost its tail feathers.  I
suspect its tail will not regrow in the near future so its appearance
tells us nothing about whether it will stay in the area.

Dave
David Mozurkewich
Seabrook MD

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