What plumage characteristic distinguishes juveniles from mature Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers?
Answer
Juveniles generally display browner tones throughout their plumage instead of stark black and white.
Young birds, classified as juveniles, present a less intense and somewhat duller version of the adult coloration, which can impede identification if one expects the high contrast associated with mature individuals. The overall effect is that juveniles exhibit more muted, brownish tones across their plumage rather than the crisp, stark black and white pattern seen in adults. Furthermore, young males do not acquire their distinctive red throat patch until later in their first year, meaning both sexes initially resemble a drab adult female.
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