Sexual dimorphism and age determination in the North Island saddleback (Philesturnus carunculatus rufaster)

Abstract

The sex of saddlebacks (Philesturnus carunculatus rufusater) can be determined accurately by measuring the length of the tarsus. Body weight, bill length, and wattle size also show sexual dimorphism but in each of these there is much overlap between the sexes. Juveniles, yearlings, and adults can be distinguished reliably using plumage characters

Keywords:

• Birds
• saddlebacks
• sexing
• dimorphism
• age detennination