Species, Age and Sex Identification of Ducks Using Wing Plumage
Oldsquaw
The underwing of all oldsquaws is a uniform patterned dark brown to black. On adult males, the innermost tertials are solid black, and the outer tertials and adjacent secondaries show traces of rust. The remainder of the wing is an unpatterned black. On adult females, the tertials and adjacent secondaries are a dark rufus brown that has a tan edging. Tertial coverts, middle coverts, and most lesser coverts are dark brown to black heavily washed with tan. The upper wing of both sexes of immatures is uniformly dark brown, often with a faint trace of rust on the secondaries and tertials. Immatures can be recognized by the frayed and faded tips of their tertials and tertial coverts.
| Wing Character | Male | Female | ||
| Adult | Immature | Immature | Adult | |
| Tertials | Acutely pointed, black, most show trace of rust | Dark gray-brown; usually show trace of rust | Dark brown with trace of rust; usually tan edging | |
| Greater tertial coverts | Entirely black | Dark brown, usually frayed and faded at tips | Dark brown; tips washed with tan | |
| Greater secondary coverts | Entirely black | Dark brown; frayed and faded at tips | Dark brown; tips washed with tan | |
| Middle and lesser coverts | Entirely black | Entirely dark brown | Dark brown; heavily washed with tan | |
| Secondaries | Dark rusty brown | Brown with traces of rust | Brown to rusty brown | |
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