Mukuvisi Ringing, 31 March 2012

The weather was not looking promising for ringing, with patches of drizzle on the drive to Mukuvisi. Luckily, the rain didn't turn up that morning, and the overcast conditions kept it from getting too hot.
The weavers were not breeding at their usual spot, so we didn't catch any of those to boost our numbers. The first unusual catch arrived in the form of an Orange-breasted Bush-shrike.
The next two great birds arrived together - in fact one chased the other into a net, then followed it and got caught as well! The birds were honeyguides; an immature Greater and an adult Lesser Honeyguide.

Greater (left) and Lesser (right) Honeyguides in the hand.

Upon closer inspection, I found that the Greater Honeyguide's primary molt was particularly strange. Instead of molting from the innermost primary, as is the norm, this bird had started molting from the middle. One feather was already newly grown, and the next feather in line was in the process of being replaced. Apparently there are a fair few birds that do this at a young age, but molt normally as an adult.
The tail feathers were similar; the innermost feather was old, the next was being replaced, and the four outer ones were also old.

Greater Honeyguide's primary molt. The 5th primary from the middle is distinctly new (darker and less worn out). The 6th is growing still, leaving a gap. The other primaries are all old.