The Kids Are Growin' Up

Late summer — and this year's young birds are growing up. Mike Hamilton's camera has found them unfurling new feathers, practicing essential skills, and sometimes . . . looking a little confused by it all. [We've named the birds below their pictures, so you can guess what they are. Have fun!]

This juvenile Anna's Hummingbird has found a beautiful source of nectar.

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These LBBs can get so confusing! First, a Dark-eyed Junco.

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Now notice the yellow beak on the White-crowned Sparrow.

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Both juvenile Song Sparrow . . .

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  and this Spotted Towhee have a just-got-up and scruffy look to them.

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This young Purple Martin still has a few bright blue/purple highlights and mottled breast.


Now what? An immature Steller's Jay makes its landing on a convenient perch.

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This Green Heron is very young while . . .

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. . . this juvenile is sprouting some adult plumage - still looking disheveled.

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A juvenile Mallard still sports a lot of down.

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A juvenile Rufous Hummingbird's colors are coming in beautifully. . .

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. . . while this juvenile Bald Eagle has very mottled plumage. 

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Look at this immature Cooper's Hawk - note the yellow eye.

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Isn't she lovely?  An immature female Wood Duck takes a spin.

You might see these two young swimmers in the same waters.

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First, here's a juvenile Pied-billed Grebe and  . . .

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. . . then an immature female Hooded Merganser.

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Wait! What!?! Waiting for more tail feathers: a juvenile American Bittern

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This immature Osprey still cries for food from its parents . . .

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. . . but a juvenile Great Blue Heron works for dinner.

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More begging and it works! A juvenile Glaucous-winged gull is almost as big as its parent but its legs are not quite as pink and its bill still dark.

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Another juvenile begs from its parent - American Crows.

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This juvenile Cedar Waxwing already has distinctive plumage and soon will be a sleek, handsome adult.

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A juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk strikes quite the pose! Notice the yellow eye.


Some young birds have obvious and distinctive markings - others not so much. Here is a juvenile male Common Yellowthroat with colors of an adult.

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And a juvenile Warbling Vireo also has adult-like plumage with more feathers coming.

Hint: the next two are thrushes.

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Also sporting spots on its breast, a juvenile American Robin is just chillin'.

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An immature Spotted Sandpiper roams a shoreline.

And here's a juvenile American Dipper. "First a little yoga, then a dip?"


A juvenile Peregrine Falcon looks intense, perhaps eying something for dinner.

Take a look at the difference between these beaks on woodpeckers.

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Maybe begging still works for this juvenile Tree Swallow.

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While this juvenile Barn Swallow just looks patient.

Here are some streaky finches.

A juvenile House Finch found some blackberries.

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And a juvenile Pine Siskin found easy pickings at a feeder.

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And now, guess who. A juvenile Red Crossbill. Look at that bill!

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And our last young bird, this juvenile Bushtit is small, fluffy and awfully cute.

Helpful hints from eBird:
"When in doubt use 'Immature' for any bird that is not an adult. 'Juvenile' is more specific, describing a bird still in its juvenal plumage. This plumage is held only briefly for many songbirds (just a few weeks after leaving the nest) or up to a year for some larger birds like hawks. Once a bird has molted out of this plumage, it is no longer a juvenile. If you can't determine this but know that the bird isn't an adult, just use 'Immature.'"

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All photos © Mike Hamilton
Mike takes pictures every day of the year in the Pacific Northwest -- and sometimes beyond.