Moult and Ageing of European Passerines

Moult is a pivotal stage in the annual cycle of all birds and understanding the effect of moult strategy on plumage is an essential tool for ageing birds in the field for birdwatchers and ringers alike.

The first edition of Moult and Ageing of European Passerines was published in 1994 after 16 years of collecting data from 140,000 birds captured at ringing stations in Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe, as well as specimens held at several European natural history museums. High quality colour photographs illustrating different moult stages for 58 species of European passerine accompanied a detailed guide to understanding the function of moult, different moult strategies and how the quality of different feather generations can be used to age live birds. Needless to say, before selling out, the book was in high demand and remains so on the second-hand marketplace today.

The long awaited second edition builds upon this already high bar by not only incorporating data on moult from another 40,000 birds but also adds another 16 new species accounts. The introductory sections incorporate much new material drawing on the findings of field observations and research carried out over the quarter of a century that has passed since the publication of the first edition.

The first part of this phenomenal, large format guide provides a comprehensive overview of moult with chapters on the function and consequence of moult; terminology and methods in moult research – new for the second edition; adult moult; and moult during the first year of life. There is significant focus on moult sequence and strategies, and how moult fits in with other events occurring within the annual cycle.

Part two concentrates on the principle of employing an understanding of moult strategy, and the identification of different feather generations in the wing, to ageing birds in the field. The bulk of this part however, and indeed the book, is comprised of the species accounts for 74 species of passerine occurring in Europe; replete with informative descriptions of the extent of moult at different life stages and how this knowledge may be applied to ageing individuals encountered in the field.  Uniquely amongst ageing and sexing guides the species accounts include an extensive series of colour photographs which present readers with examples of juvenile and adult plumages illustrating post-juvenile, post-breeding and pre-breeding moult where appropriate.

The guide clearly distils decades worth of personal ringing data and from that perspective it makes an excellent reference work for any ringer not already fortunate enough to own the first edition of this legendary work; and even then, there are good reasons to upgrade. For those however, who have started ringing more recently or others seeking to further a deeper interest in passerine moult then this outstanding book comes highly commended.

Book reviewed by Justin Walker