alula and ageing of honeyeaters [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

I have received an enquiry on ageing
honeyeaters and thought I would reply "on-line". I have summarised
the technique that I applied when ageing the White-fronted HE  using
Julian's great photo- http://www.flickr.com/photos/ozjulian/768995732/
 

The shape of the tip of the longest
of the alula feathers has been shown to be diagnostic of age in honeyeaters
(excluding the melithreptus honeyeaters). James Matthew who was systematically
examining plumages of birds in museums while working on HANZAB with Birds
Australia made this discovery and published an article in Corella. James
& I spent time banding and field testing this technique.

The alula is located adjacent the greater
coverts and on the leading edge of the wing. It consists of 2-3 feathers
that stickout a little in flight especially when braking, hovering and
manoeuvring. 

What James discovered was that the shape
of longest alula feather varies according to age. It is rounded in juvenile
plumage and pointed in adult birds. The use of this to age birds in the
field requires close scrutiny (ie in the hand or thro' the excellent photos
presented in this forum). Another factor is when and to what extent the
juveniles lose their juvenile plumage (post-juvenile moult). In a good
season this may occur 2-3 months from fledging. In a poor season resources
seem to limit the extent of post-juvenile moult in autumn. It is common
place for juveniles to moult only their outer 6 of their primaries (most
important flight feathers) during post-juvenile moult. The alula usually
is replaced in post-juvenile moult and gets an intermediate alula with
a sharper point. The sharpness of this intermediate alula feather varies.
The next complete moult occurs during the following summer/autumn (bird
12 to 18 months old) and my banding data shows that this intermediate alula
is generally replaced by a sharply pointed alula.

The reason/advantage for this age dependant
shape of alula is not known.

Now using Dimitris' excellent photo
of LWB below applying all that to answer this quiz:

• what shape is the tip of the longest alula feather (see arrow)?
• how old is it?
• why is it here in Canberra?

Attachment:

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