During our ringing session at Webb’s Wood today we caught this Blue Tit:
As you can see from the blue primary coverts, this is an adult bird. It should have moulted last autumn after breeding. The state of its primary feathers and tail make it look as if it failed to moult. I am pretty certain that the discolouration would not be the result of a mite infection, but happy to be corrected.
It is a female, and had a developing brood patch. Will it make it through the breeding season? It’s weight was decent: 12.1g, so it seems to be feeding okay.
Tough little bird!
Ringing In The Braydon Forest & Beyond 