Date: Sun, 12 May 2002 16:14:08 -0500
From: Lanny Chambers <lanny@HUMMINGBIRDS.NET>
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast
<HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu>
To: HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] A Mother's Morning

On 5/12/02 14:20, John MacGregor jonivy@EARTHLINK.NET wrote:

>What are nest marks?

Stains and abrasions caused by the breast feathers rubbing against the
rim of a nest. They are highly variable, and generally appear as dark
lines or smudges. They can be straight, angled, V-shaped, or zig-zag. Not
all brooding females have them. Stains (from the detritus of chicks
pooping over the side) may be bathed off, but wear remains until the next
molt. Wear marks can be a handy way of identifying individual
females--each is unique, but it helps to photograph or sketch them.

Lanny Chambers
St. Louis, USA