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Hi Suzanne,
Moult strategy is a tricky thing. What Cindy was probably referring to was that it isn't until the second spring of their lives (= ~2 years old as you indicate) that male Purple Finches have attained their complete adult plumage. During the July time frame (Of the year after they were hatched = 1 year old), males will undergo a moult. This is when they start taking on that wonderful wine-purple colour.
In my reply I referred to a reddish wash on the brown plumage as a way to ID young males is the spring. This is because there is another, partial moult in April. It is still not known whether some, all or none of the young males or females undergo this moult. If young males do, they should have some colour in the feathers on the front of the head. Pyle also discusses a reddish wash. This may be the result of the replacement of body feathers at this time.
To summarize, I wouldn't expect there would be any brownish plumaged Purple Finches that could be sexed with certainty at this time. However, by the end of April people should keep their eyes open for indications of reddish wash in the plumage. Those brown plumaged birds without any reddish wash still can not be reliably sexed.
All the best,
Lance
-----Original Message-----
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Suzanne Borkowski
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 2:36 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] RE: "female" purple finch?
Hi;
If I can jump in here...
I took an Ornithology course at Dalhousie in 2005 from Cindy Staicer, who told us that male Purple Finches don't gain their raspberry colouration until their 2nd spring; i.e. until they are two years old. However, they are capable of breeding when they reach their first spring - one year of age. They sing to attract a mate, even though they don't have much chance against their colourful elders!
Cheers;
Suzanne
--- On Fri, 2/26/10, Laviolette, Lance (EXP) <lance.laviolette@lmco.com> wrote:
> From: Laviolette, Lance (EXP) <lance.laviolette@lmco.com>
> Subject: [NatureNS] RE: "female" purple finch?
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Received: Friday, February 26, 2010, 11:40 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Jim Wolford
> wrote:
> >does
> anyone know whether both sexes sing in purple finches?
> >Purple
> finches are notoriously variable in just when the young males begin to
> take on the
> >raspberry-coloured
> features. -- I invite
> comments or corrections? Lance?
>
> As Andy has already addressed the
> singing female Purple Finch
> aspect of Jim's question, I'll stick to the plumage part. Unless the
> brownish plumage of the Purple Finch in question has a reddish wash,
> it is not possible to reliably determine whether the bird is a male or
> female.
> Young, male Purple
> Finches may not start to attain their colourful definitive alternate
> plumage until the June/July timeframe, though they may start to show
> some colour as early as April.
>
> All the best,
>
> Lance
>
>
>
> From:
> naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca
> [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Jeannie
> Shermerhorn
> Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 7:59 AM
> To:
> naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] re "female" purple
>
> finch?
>
>
>
> I've heard the female
> sing and I agree with the
> quote Andy.
> Jeannie
>
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