Dan et al,

Your out-of-the-nest definitions for juvenile, immature, and subadult are
essentially those I recently encountered. Thanks for clarifying the use of
juvenile (noun) and juvenal (adjective). Question: A bird in natal down is a
hatchling, nestling or fledgling depending on stage of behavioral
development? Can the terms juvenile or immature be applied to birds still
in the nest? I'm asking in reference to what is appropriate in
professional ornithology journal or communication styles.

The educational response is really appreciated; despite my
relatively good background in evolutionary biology, my
concepts about some terms in reference to birds are/were very fuzzy!
(Probably because most of my animal models have been rodents!)
Again, thanks to all for sharing your knowledge.

Maureen E. Ellis
me2 at u.washington.edu
Seattle, Washington USA
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On Sun, 4 Feb 1996, Dan Stephens wrote:

> > (snip)
> > Maureen Ellis asked for "the standardized correct use for the following
> > terms in differentiating birds: Race, morph, phase, population,
> > subspecies, variant, form." I'll reply to the whole gang, in case some
> > people disagree with me.
> > (snip)
> To change the subject slightly: Maureen mentioned that she had learned to use
> the terms juvenile, immature and subadult. I would be interested in her
> definitions. Juvenile/Juvenal is commonly missused: we refer an
> individual that is between its natal down and its first basic plumage
> (first winter plumage) as a juvenile (a noun). This bird is in its
> juvenal plumage (an adjective). This plumage is almost always seen in
> the late summer and fall. Immature usually
> refers to any plumage that is not adult. Subadult to the plumages between
> juvenal and adult in those species that take several molts to reach their
> definitive adult plumage (e.g. Gulls, Eagles).
>
> Well, back to grading papers.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dan Stephens (509) 662-7443
> Dept. of Biology fax: (509) 664-2538
> Wenatchee Valley College e-mail: dstephen at ctc.edu
> 1300 Fifth Street
> Wenatchee, WA 98801
>
>