Si-Bore Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Hi guys I noticed 3 out of the 5 birds I shot tonight were young. Has anyone else noticed an increase in young birds? Cheers Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CARBINE Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Yer I`v seen a few now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 iv not seen any down here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Are you sure they`re young as opposed to moulting adults ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si-Bore Posted March 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Are you sure they`re young as opposed to moulting adults ? Good point. How can you tell? They had all their colour and white neck bands but were smaller. :blink: Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 (edited) Henry as I put on another post wood pigeons have not stoopped breeding this winter and i have been shooting youngsters all winter ( about 20 out of a sample of about 2000). They have no neck ring and as it takes 3 months for youngsters to grow their neck rings its easy to work out many were hatched in November\december and January. And before anyone suggests it in this forum ( it was hinted at in the wildfowling forum ) I do know the difference between young wood pigeons and stock doves. Si , when ageing wood pigeons you need to look for Juvenile 0 to 3 months ................................................................................ ................................ Wing Coverts Pale grey-brown with buff tips White neck spot Absent Body moult Starts moulting from juvenile feathers into 1st winter t grey feathers six weeks after fledging 1st winter birds 3 months to 12 months ................................................................................ ................................ Wing Coverts Brown - buff lesser wing coverts White neck patch Present Adult ................................................................................ ............................... Wing Coverts Slate grey no buff tips White neck patch Present Males are slightly larger than females Wing length adult male wing 243-263mm adult female wing length 240-260mm junenile wing 234-251 mm Edited March 27, 2008 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traztaz Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Even here in Germany where we are supposed to have a definitive summer/winter we had for the last 2 years very very mild winters and the sky rat is becomming like the rabbit and doing it all the time , I have shot many mant young birds during the winter this year , in the last 15 years of hunting in Germany this was unheard of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted March 27, 2008 Report Share Posted March 27, 2008 Generally, if you find a lot of feathers in sheaths around the face area as well as the buff edged feathers and little or no neck band then, yes it`s a young un. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 We've shot about 40 young birds since February right through till now. This is in Fife Scotland!!! Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funky Posted March 29, 2008 Report Share Posted March 29, 2008 Hi i would say that lately most of the ones i have shot were young and also i have yet to shoot a bird with a full crop which i find bazaar as where i shoot is all rape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted March 30, 2008 Report Share Posted March 30, 2008 Funky are you sure your birds were young ? Did they have white neck patches and were the covert feathers dull tinged with buff ? I would be surprised if more than 5% of your bag were less than 6 months old at this time of year. Remember do not go on size alone. some adult females are noticable small than adult males. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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