BLUE-WINGED TEAL (continued) 
Age Determination of Females 
Tertials of the juvenile plumage of females are small, narrow, 
and frayed at the tips, while those of adults are wider, are usually 
heavily edged with brownish, and have blunt, unfrayed tips. NOTE: 
In December, adults may show some fraying. 
Tertial coverts of the juvenile plumage are narrow, pointed, 
and somewhat fringed with the edging frayed off. In adult and first 
winter plumage, tertial coverts are edged with brown and somewhat 
more rounded than in the juvenile plumage. 
Both tertials and tertial coverts appear to be adequate for 
separating the two age groups in October. In December, tertial coverts 
are probably accurate. The greater secondary coverts of adults usually 
contain less white than those of immatures. On adult wings, this white 
is often a "'V" pattern. On immature wings, the white is rarely, if 
ever, in V's. 
KEY TO BLUE-WINGED TEAL WINGS 
Sex Determination 
1. Speculum: 
(a) A bright iridescent green, easily visible ---------- 2 
(b) Appears dark, may show faint traces of 
green but no bright iridescence -------------------- Female 
2. Greater Secondary Coverts: 
(a) When lying in normal aspect appear to be entirely 
white but may have a few spots on inner-web which 
are normally concealed ------+----+-----------+------- Male 
(b) Mostly well spotted with dark, or coverts pre- 
dominantly dark with little or no trace of 
White ------+2--2- 2-2 en en een ne ee ee ene Female 
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