
SHOVELER (continued) 
The tertial coverts of the juvenile female plumage are similar 
to those of juvenile males. The tertial coverts of adult females and 
females in first winter plumage are brownish, heavily edged with white 
and unfrayed. Both juvenile tertials and tertial coverts are generally 
present in October. 
The greater coverts of immatures generally show small dusky spots, 
while the greater coverts of adults do not. 
KEY TO SHOVELER WINGS 
Sex Determination 
1. Speculum: 
(a) All secondaries gray or a dull non-iridescent 
green, or 1/3 of most proximal showing traces 
of iridescent green -----------------e-------eerne- Female 
(b) All or most secondaries a bright iridescent 
green ~----------------- 25 - ee ne nnn nee eae 2 
2. Middle and Lesser Coverts: 
(a) Pale gray blue to gray, with varying amounts 
of cream edging -------------------- enn nee e nnn nn Female 
(b) Pale blue to pale gray blue. Cream edging 
absent except for traces at the leading edge 
of the wing or rarely on a few coverts near 
the wrist --------------2--- 0-2 oo on ee en en ee Male 
Age Determination of Males 
1. Tertials: 
(a) Brownish, much frayed and faded, about the 
same length as secondaries, bluntly pointed ------ Immature 
(b) Basically greenish black, often heavily 
washed with white, noticeably longer 
than secondaries (except when growing), 
acutely pointed -----~---~---------+----------+---- 2 
