I thoroughly agree Nikolas, and in this case I've been using Debus's
guide to the raptors of Australia, which is excellent.
Pity I couldn't remember the difference between a juv and an immature.
EB
On 2/4/08, Nikolas Haass <> wrote:
> Being spoiled with high quality European field guides (especially "The Most
> Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe" by Lars Svensson, Peter J.
> Grant, Killian Mullarney, and Dan Zetterstrom) but also some American field
> guides (here I prefer a combination of the Sibley and the National
> Geographic, since each alone isn't the greatest hit, but together they are
> o.k.), I have to say that all four Australian field guides (in alphabetical
> order: Morcombe, Pizzey & Knight, Simpson & Day, Slater) are quite
> disappointing. None of the four shows really all important plumages, so for a
> thorough ID (including ageing and sexing) you always need to look up other
> references.
>
> Nikolas
>
> ----------------
> Nikolas Haass
>
> Sydney, NSW
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Greg & Val Clancy <>
> To: Evan Beaver <>
> Cc: Birding-Aus Aus <>
> Sent: Monday, February 4, 2008 12:35:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [Birding-Aus] Square-Tailed Kites over Lapstone, NSW, again.
>
> Hi Evan,
>
> If the bird was from the previous season it would be an 'immature' and not a
> 'juvenile'. These terms are often confused as most field guides don't apply
> them consistently. A 'juvenile' is a bird that is still in the plumage that
> it possessed when it fledged. A juvenile that moults becomes an immature
> unless it moults directly into adult plumage. Some species do not have an
> immature stage.
>
>
> Regards
>
> Greg Clancy
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