Bird Word: Immature
- Immature: this is the stage of a bird’s life from when it fledges, or flies, until it is ready to breed.
Immature birds can be very confusing to identify. In many cases they have not yet developed their adult plumage. Good Field Guides will show these variations in the illustrations. In some cases it would be wise to also check the descriptive text of the field guide.
This variation in plumage colours and patterns just adds one more dimension to this fascinating thing called birding. It means that we always have to be alert and constantly learning.
An immature bird is similar to a juvenile, though these two terms can have subtle differences in meaning.
Rufous Whistler (juvenile male)
CAN ANYONE HELP ME……..I BELIEVE THE 3 BABY WRENS ON MY DOOR HAVE BEEN ABANDONED BY THEIR MOTHER. I HAVE SEEN HER OUTSIDE, BUT THEY ARE ALL VERY WEAK AND DON’T SEEM TO BE PEEPING FOR FOOD…….I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM AND AM CONCERNED………THANKS FOR ANY HELP.
ROE
Do you know what kind of wrens they are? Fairy wrens, scrub wrens, grasswrens or non-Australian wrens.