Age-class determination of canvasbacks
Journal of Wildlife Management
By: J.R. Serie, D.L. Trauger, H. A. Doty, and D.E. Sharp
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Abstract
A technique was developed to distinguish yearling from adult canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) in the field during spring on the basis of white flecking on the distal ends of selected wing feathers. Covert feathers from adults had well-defined vermiculation patterns whereas feathers from yearlings lacked such markings. These age-related characters were confirmed by paired comparisons of feathers from the same captive birds in consecutive years and by discriminant analysis of feathers using densitometric measurements from known-age wild birds. Reflective densitometric measurements of greater secondary coverts for females and males were significantly different between 1- and 2-year-old and between 2- and 3-year-old canvasbacks. Greater secondary coverts were the best feathers for recognizing age-classes of males and females. Densitometric values indicate low variability among different observers and within samples.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Age-class determination of canvasbacks |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 1982 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 11 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| First page | 894 |
| Last page | 904 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |