I need some advice on how to tell them apart!

[JR4-AL]

I have to confess I am having a difficult time trying to tell which of my Martins are SY males or SY females or ASY females. The ASY males are obvious and I literally have stared at photos in the PM Update of the different year and sexes and I have virtually memorized the characteristics of all BUT I am having trouble applying it to my colony. Am I the only one with this problem? I need some advice on how some of you do it. I did my first nest check on Sunday and began filling out my first Martin Watch Nest Data Sheet and I am anxious in filling out the Male/Female Age section. I just do not know whether some are SY male with a ASY female or a SY male with a SY female??? The good news is we have 9 nests with 30 eggs so far and several other nests with green leaves! Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[Louise Chambers]

Don't be upset - I don't believe any of us will get all the female IDs right. The best way to gauge female age is the feathers below the tail - solid white = SY. Timing helps too - you know that the females that arrived the first 4-6 weeks are probably ASY, but that only helps if you started your IDs then.

We appreciate as much data as you can collect - thank you for participating.

[JR4-AL]

Thank you Louise. There is a steep learning curve.Thank you again.

[Don Troha]

From a distance I can't tell them apart either. So I have to drag out the binocs or zoom in with the camera. Here's a subbie pair from last year. The female on left has plain gray throat feathers and the male on the right has a speckling of purple throat feathers. Otherwise they look similar.


To tell the female SY from ASY have a look at the feathers under the tail as Louise mentioned (Tattletails). This is the same female from the above pic. Feathers under the tail are mostly white identifying it as an SY female.


Here's a recent pic of a different Martin. This one has the full brown coloring of feathers under the tail typical of an ASY female.

[MamaBruff]

Also the males are the only only ones who make that keek keek keek clicking at the end of their gurgling song.

[JR4-AL]

Awesome photos and very informative Don!!! I am going to try to post some photos soon and may need some help to ID them. (Got my bride a new lense for her camera for Mother's Day) When she lets me use it I will try to post. Thanks again for the info. Moma Bruff- I will listen more closely!!! Great to know this too!