Introduction to Banding
CBBS offers an Introduction to Banding at least once each year usually In the spring, prior to spring migration monitoring.
It is a requirement that all CBBS members attend an Introduction to Banding prior to participating in CBBS projects during their second year of membership, unless exempted in whole or in part by the Board.
Introduction to Banding is free to CBBS members. A $20 fee is charged to non-members who have the option of applying the $20 fee towards the cost of a one-year membership.
Molt and Ageing
When we band a bird we want to identify the species, its age and what sex it is. If we don’t know the species we cannot band the bird. Determining the age class of the bird allows us to assess vital rates such as survivorship by age class, productivity (the ratio of young birds to adult birds), and recruitment (the number of new adults of breeding age in the population).
There are two systems for assigning age to a bird. The most common system is based on the calendar year that the bird was born in. It uses terminology defined by Humphrey and Parkes. A hatch year bird was born in the current year, a second year bird was born last year, and an after second year bird is two years or older. A bird changes age class on January 1. This system works best in temperate zones, where breeding seasons are fairly well defined, but fails in areas where breeding occurs across the December/January calendar year boundary. The WRP system, named for the three biologists who developed it (Jared Wolfe, Thomas Ryder and Peter Pyle), removed the artificial link between calendar year and the biological age of the bird.
Regardless of which age classification system is being used, banders look at feather tracts (particularly on the wing and tail) on the bird to determine what generation they are: juvenal, formative, basic or alternate, or a mix of these. Moult is the process whereby birds lose feathers and grow others. This information allows the bander to assign an age to the bird, using either system.
Below you will find links to various resources that will help you to understand moult and ageing birds.
Molt & ageing NA passerines PYLE NABB 1997 PDF >
Molt primer PYLE Birding 2008 PDF >
Taking open wing images Pyle PDF >
Molt definitions from Pyle’s I and II – KENNEDY PDF >
Molts & plumages a banders overview BURTON NABB 2006 PDF >
Ageing N. A. Landbirds by Molt Limits Photo Guide – FROEHLICH – 2009 PDF >
Ageing N. A. Landbirds data for figures – FROEHLICH – 2009 PDF >
Molt & Ageing Passerines I – SMITH – 2020 PDF >
Using alula and carpal covert to age ROSE & WOLFE NABB 2010 PDF >
Using distal marginal coverts to age SWTH CARNES NABB 2017 PDF >
Molt cycles tropical birds WOLFE et al JFO 2010 PDF >
Wolf-Ryder-Pyle (WRP) ageing system material PDF >
Modifications to WRP molt cycles JOHNSON et al JFO 2011 PDF >
MAPS Chat spring 2019 PDF >
MAPS Chat WRP examples PDF >
Calendar & WRP age with wing diagram HEAVYSIDE & KENNEDY 2019 PDF >
Calendar & molt code cheatsheet with WRP HEAVYSIDE & KENNEDY 2019 PDF >
Websites
The MAPS manual has excellent tips on ageing birds and on the WRP classification system. Download PDF from the Institute for Bird Populations.
The following two websites feature photographs of bird wings and tips on ageing. While the McGill site has been incorporated into Piranga, it is easier to print off the McGill species accounts for reference. For example, if the account is open in Google Chrome click on the ellipsis (three dots in a column) in the upper right corner, choose Print and then Save as PDF.
Publications for Sale
| PUBLICATION | CBBS MEMBER PRICE |
| Pyle ID Guide to NA Birds Vol.II | $75 Cdn |
| Pyle ID Guide to NA Birds Vol.I (2nd Edition) | $75 Cdn |
Becoming a Bander
Apprentice Guide
The Guide Book for Apprenticing Banders is a short booklet is intended as a guide for those members of CBBS who wish to increase their banding expertise in a methodical way. It may lead to obtaining a Sub-permit under one of our Master Permit holders. Sub-permits can be very specific; for example, a sub-permit to band nest-box species such as Mountain Bluebirds and Tree Swallows without any other authorization. To become a Master Permit holder requires considerable additional study and practice. It is hoped that this guidebook will encourage and help members to extend their knowledge and skills, and become even more valuable as CBBS members.
Activity Log
Download the Activity Log which you will need to document progress and expertise as you improve your Banding skills and knowledge.