Growth and sex of nestling Merlins in Orkney

摘要: Seventeen Merlin nestlings in six broods on Mainland Orkney 1981 were weighed and measured regularly until they fledged. Nine chicks grew more rapidly attained greater weights than the remaining eight irrespective of when hatched relation to their siblings. They also had longer beaks, hind claws, middle toes tarsi, thicker therefore assumed be females. It is suggested from measurements these birds that weight wing and/or tenth (outer) primary length are sufficient judge sex young about 13 days old. results may generally applicable northern Britain.