Age determination of female redhead ducks
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Abstract
Eighty-seven fall-collected wings from female redhead ducks (Aythya americana) were assigned to the adult or juvenile group based on 'tertial' and 'tertial covert' shape and wear. To obtain spring age-related characters from these fall-collected groupings, we considered parameters of flight feathers retained until after the first breeding season. Parameters measured included: markings on and width of greater secondary coverts, and length, weight, and diameter of primary feathers. The best age categorization was obtained with discriminant analysis based on a combination of the most accurately measured parameters. This analysis, applied to 81 wings with complete measurements, resulted in only 1 being incorrectly aged and 3 placed in a questionable category. Discriminant functions used with covert markings and the three 5th primary parameters were applied to 30 known-age juvenile, hand-reared redhead females, 28 were correctly aged, none was incorrectly aged, and only 2 were placed in the questionable category.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Age determination of female redhead ducks |
| Series title | Journal of Wildlife Management |
| DOI | 10.2307/3799901 |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Year Published | 1975 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Description | 8 p. |
| First page | 256 |
| Last page | 263 |