Additional biometrics

Additional biometrics

Listed are some additional biometric measurements which we recommend taking on species if there is sufficient time during normal ringing procedures. Measurements that are highlighted in bold are either essential for determining the corresponding trait or there is a published analysis which requires all the measurements listed to be taken. Those measurements not highlighted may still be useful and it would be valuable to build a larger sample in the ringing database. We would welcome anyone to contact us with any additional biometric measurements known to be important for a species or any provisionally useful measurements in order to encourage more ringers to collect additional data. Information on how to take some of the measurements mentioned below can be found in the Ringing Guidance.

With grateful thanks to Chris du Feu for initiating this work.

SpeciesMeasurementCriteria for
Arctic SkuaTail difference; Wing length + WeightAge1; Sex (ad.)2
Arctic TernTotal head lengthSex (ad.)2
Bar-tailed GodwitBill length (F)Sex1,2
Bewick’s SwanToe lengthSex (ad.)1
BitternWing length + Bill length (F)Sex1,2
Black-headed GullTotal head length + Bill depth (G)Sex1,2
Black-tailed GodwitWing length + Bill length (F)Sex, Race1,2
BuzzardTarsus width (lateral point) + Hind claw lengthSex (pul. >26 days)1,2
ChoughWing length + WeightSex (ad.)2
Common GullTotal head lengthSex1,2
Common SandpiperTotal head lengthSex1
Common TernTotal head length + WeightSex (ad.)1,2
CootTarsus length (min.)Sex (ad.)1,2
CormorantBill depth (min.); Gular pouch angleSex1,2; Race1,2
CurlewBill length (F) + Tarsus length (min.)Sex1,2
Curlew SandpiperBill length (F)Sex1,2
DunlinBill length (F) + Tarsus length (min.)Race1,2
FulmarBill length (feathers at base of culmen to tip); Bill depth (gonys)Sex1,2
Golden EagleCulmen length + Hind claw lengthSex1,2
GoshawkTarsus length (min.)Sex1,2
Great Black-back GullTotal head length; Bill length (F) + Bill depth (gonys)Sex (ad.)1,2
Great Crested GrebeBill length (gape to tip) + Bill depth (proximate point of nostril)Sex1,2
Great SkuaTotal head length + Tarsus (min.)Sex (ad.)2
Great Spotted WoodpeckerBill length (S) + Bill Depth (N)Race5
Grey HeronBill length (F)Sex (ad.)1,2
Hen HarrierBill length (C)Sex (imm.)2
Herring GullTotal head length; Bill length (F) + Bill depth (gonys)Sex (ad. argenteus only)1, 2
JackdawWing length + Tarsus length (min.)Sex (ad.)2
KittiwakeTotal head lengthSex1,2
LapwingCrest lengthSex (ad.)1,2
Lesser Black-back GullTotal head length; Bill length (F) + Bill depth (gonys)Sex (ad. graellsii only)1, 2
Little EgretWing length + Bill length (F) + Tarsus length (min.); Nape feather lengthSex2; Age1,2
Little StintBill length (F)Sex1
Manx ShearwaterBill length (F) + Tarsus length (min.)Sex2
Marsh HarrierToe span; Bill length(C) + WeightSex (pul.)1; Sex (imm.)1,2
Marsh/Reed WarblerWing formulaSpecies2,6
MoorhenTarsus & toe lengthSex (ad.)1,2
Mute SwanTarsus length (min.)Sex (juv.)1
OspreyBill length (C) + Tail length; Forearm length + Tarsus length (min.)Sex (ad.); Sex (pul. 40-73 days)2
OystercatcherBill length (F) + Bill depth (D) + Bill tip shapeSex1,2, Foraging Strategy8
Pectoral SandpiperBill length (F) + Tarsus length (min.)Sex3
Pipits (all species)Hind Claw LengthSpecies2,6
PuffinNo. of bill groovesAge1,2
Purple SandpiperBill length (F)Sex1,2
Red KiteWeight + Tail lengthSex1,2
Red-necked GrebeBill length (gape to tip) + Bill depth (proximate point of nostril)Sex1
RedshankWing length + Bill length (F) + Tarsus & toe lengthRace1,2
Red-throated DiverWing length + Bill length (F) + Tarsus length (min.)Sex1,2
Ring-necked ParakeetWing length + Bill length (S) + No. of yellow underwing covertsSex2,4
RookWing length + Bill length (S)Sex (ad.)2
Roseate TernTotal head lengthSex (ad.)2
ShagBill depth (min.)Sex1,2
SiskinLength of black on TF5Sex (juv.)2
SkylarkWing formulaSex2
SparrowhawkBill length (C) + Tarsus length (min.)Sex1,2
SwallowTail differenceSex2,6
Tawny OwlWing length + WeightSex1,2
Temminck’s StintBill length (F)Sex (ad.)2
Water RailBill length (F) + Tarsus length (min.)Sex1,2
WaxwingLength of yellow on tip of tail; Number of red tips on secondariesSex2
Whooper SwanToe lengthSex (ad.)1
Willow W./ChiffchaffWing formulaSpecies2,6
WoodcockTail length + Bill length (F)Sex1,2
WoodpigeonTail length + Wing length + Tibia length; Total head lengthSex1,2
WrenWing length + Total head lengthSex2,7

References

1 Baker, J. (2016). Identification of European non-passerines: BTO Guide. British Trust for Ornithology, Thetford, UK.

2 Demongin L. (2016). Identification Guide to Birds in the Hand. Beauregard-Vendon.

3 Prater, A.J., Marchant, J.H. & Vuorinen, J. (1977). Guide to the identification and ageing of Holarctic waders. British Trust for Ornithology,  Thetford, UK.

4 Butler, C.J. & Butler, A. (2004). Sexing and ageing Rose-ringed parakeets Psittacula krameri in Britain. Ringing & Migration 22, 7-12, DOI: 10.1080/03078698.2004.9674305.

5 Smith, K. W. (2010). Continental great spotted woodpeckers Dendrocopos major in Britain – further analyses of wing‐length data. Ringing & Migration 25, 65-70, DOI: 10.1080/03078698.2010.9674419.

6 Svennson, L. (1992). Identification guide to European passerines, 4th ed.  Svennson L., Stockholm, Sweden.

7 Sweeney, J.J. & Tatner, P. (1996). Sexing Wrens Troglodytes troglodytes indigenus using morphological measurements and discriminant analysis. Bird Study 43, 342-350, DOI: 10.1080/00063659609461027.

8‑ van de Pol, M. et al. (2009). Oystercatchers’ bill shapes as a proxy for diet specialization: more differentiation than meets the eye. Ardea, 97, 335–347.

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