Scientists can use clues in the wing to age birds. In this case the bird has molted all its wing feathers recently, so it is an after hatch year male.
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Scientists can use clues in the wing to age birds. In this case the bird has molted all its wing feathers recently, so it is an after hatch year male.
This female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was one out of six grosbeaks banded at the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station. Making it an irruption year at the station.
This female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was one out of six grosbeaks banded at the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station. Making it an irruption year at the station.
Scientists examine the wing of this cuckoo looking for signs of feather wear to age this bird.
Scientists examine the wing of this cuckoo looking for signs of feather wear to age this bird.
A Black-billed Cuckoo is weighed in a plastic pill canister, so that researchers can better understand the fluctuation of weight gain and loss during migration.
A Black-billed Cuckoo is weighed in a plastic pill canister, so that researchers can better understand the fluctuation of weight gain and loss during migration.
An American Redstart wing being examined in the hand, the bright contrasting orange and black indicate this bird is an after hatch year male.
An American Redstart wing being examined in the hand, the bright contrasting orange and black indicate this bird is an after hatch year male.
This is the first Prothonotary Warbler since 2007 at the BBL's Fall Migration Station.
This is the first Prothonotary Warbler since 2007 at the BBL's Fall Migration Station.
To age and sex Magnolia Warbler's in the hand, scientists look for clues in the tail. These large square white patches are an excellent indication that this bird is an after hatch year, male Magnolia Warbler.
To age and sex Magnolia Warbler's in the hand, scientists look for clues in the tail. These large square white patches are an excellent indication that this bird is an after hatch year, male Magnolia Warbler.
In the fall of 2022, the BBL's Fall Migration Station had a surprising number of early migrants pass through the station at the end of August, including an abundance of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.
In the fall of 2022, the BBL's Fall Migration Station had a surprising number of early migrants pass through the station at the end of August, including an abundance of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.
![Six people are sitting or standing around a USGS bird band table display talking](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/elaine_bird_banding_table_latino_conservation_week.jpg?itok=WSs-xCRz)
Elaine Nakash educates visitors and volunteers alike at the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory's display table, which was setup for the Latino Conservation Week event at the National Wildlife Visitor Center at Patuxent Research Refuge.
Elaine Nakash educates visitors and volunteers alike at the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory's display table, which was setup for the Latino Conservation Week event at the National Wildlife Visitor Center at Patuxent Research Refuge.
![A women is removing a brown colored bird from a mist net.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/StephanieEgger_2.jpg?itok=_h1iDPky)
Bird Banding Laboratory Biologist, Stephanie Egger, extracts a thrush from a mist net.
Bird Banding Laboratory Biologist, Stephanie Egger, extracts a thrush from a mist net.
![A women is smiling while holding a label bag that reads "Bird Safe Philly"](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/StephanieEgger_1.jpg?itok=6UL6LAG5)
Stephanie Egger smiles for the camera with her Bird Safe Philly program supplies.
Stephanie Egger smiles for the camera with her Bird Safe Philly program supplies.
A map of where birds were banded in 2021, in blue, a total of over 600,000 banding records.
A map of where birds were banded in 2021, in blue, a total of over 600,000 banding records.
A map of where previously-banded birds were found in 2021, in pink, a total of almost 120,000 encounter and recapture records. An “encounter” is any observation of a previously-banded bird, of which a “recapture” is a special case where the bird is captured by a permitted bander, either the person who originally band
A map of where previously-banded birds were found in 2021, in pink, a total of almost 120,000 encounter and recapture records. An “encounter” is any observation of a previously-banded bird, of which a “recapture” is a special case where the bird is captured by a permitted bander, either the person who originally band
Banders compare the wings of two banded Purple Finches at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.
Banders compare the wings of two banded Purple Finches at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.
A male Sharp-shinned Hawk banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.
A male Sharp-shinned Hawk banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.
A Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), like the one pictured, was originally banded with a USGS federal leg band in Alaska and then encountered in Japan several months later. Currently the BBL is working together with Japan's banding scheme to ensure bird movement data, like this, gets recorded from both schemes.
A Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva), like the one pictured, was originally banded with a USGS federal leg band in Alaska and then encountered in Japan several months later. Currently the BBL is working together with Japan's banding scheme to ensure bird movement data, like this, gets recorded from both schemes.
A Tufted Titmouse recaptured at the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station in 2021, originally banded at the station in 2013.
A Tufted Titmouse recaptured at the Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station in 2021, originally banded at the station in 2013.
![A white-spotted black wing, is held over a book that aides in aging and sexing.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Kyra_YBSA%20%282%29.jpg?itok=5AKPQJNa)
A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker's wing and the "Identifiation Guide to North American Birds" by Peter Pyle
linkA bander examine's the wing of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, using Peter Pyle's book "Identification Guide to North American Birds" to age and sex the individual.
A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker's wing and the "Identifiation Guide to North American Birds" by Peter Pyle
linkA bander examine's the wing of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, using Peter Pyle's book "Identification Guide to North American Birds" to age and sex the individual.
The first House Finch caught at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station since 1999.
The first House Finch caught at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station since 1999.
Black-and-white Warblers are one of the more common warbler species banded at the BBL's Fall Migration Banding Station.
Black-and-white Warblers are one of the more common warbler species banded at the BBL's Fall Migration Banding Station.
Cape May Warbler banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.
Cape May Warbler banded at the USGS Bird Banding Lab's Fall Migration Station.