Aging Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) by Wings Information Source: South Carolina Agricultural Education

Determining Age LOOK FOR: 1) Color of the primary covert feathers 2) Molting and replacement of primary feathers of their wings. Buffy-tipped primary = juvenile quail Absence of buffy-tipped primary coverts = adult bird

Wing Parts Primary feathers Primary coverts Alula feathers

Juvenile Buffy-colored tips of the primary coverts. Buffy-tipped primary coverts (juvenile)

Adult Absence of buffy-tipped primary coverts. No buffy-tipped primary coverts (adult)

Primary Feathers Primaries are also called flight feathers. They are numbered from 10 to 1 starting from the outside and counting in Primary feathers Primary coverts Alula feathers

Feather Molt Primaries are molted and replaced starting with #1. Primaries #9 & #10 are not molted until the bird is an adult Primary feathers Primary coverts Alula feathers

Adult in Molt The absence of buffy-tipped coverts reveal that this bird is an adult even though the #8 primary is being replaced No buffy-tipped primary coverts (adult) #8 primary being replaced