Here’s what eBird says: When in doubt use 'Immature' for any bird that is not an adult. 'Juvenile' is more specific, describing a bird still in its juvenile 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’.

Maeve Kim, Jericho Center

> On Aug 20, 2019, at 11:38 AM, Veer Frost <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Apropos of nothing but my own confusion, is there an eBird ie
> scientific definition of the difference between Juvenile and Immature?
> I suspect I use the terms wrongly when reporting, and on Maeve's
> report these handsome Goldeneye kids are reported as 'immature'. Is
> that because they now feed themselves? (which Juveniles don't?!) ...
> thank you for any advice!Veer Frost, Passumpsic
> 
> On 8/20/2019 at 6:07 AM, "Maeve Kim"  wrote:We were stumped by five
> similar-sounding ducks last week: brown or red-brown heads, tail
> sometimes held stiffly, white patches on wing, white on throat or
> breast. With a little help from a friend and two guide book, we
> decided they were immature goldeneye. There are some poor photos at
> https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S58918335 
> Maeve Kim, Jericho Center
> 
>> On Aug 19, 2019, at 10:04 PM, R Stewart  wrote:
>> 
>> *Need Help again* identifying a duck. Took some not so great
> digiscope
>> pictures which tend to show more contrasting color than bino or
> scope view.
>> 
>> Deming Pond, S. Village E. Dorset, Bennington, Vermont, US
>> Aug 18, 2019 5:00 PM - 5:20 PM
>> Protocol: Stationary
>> Comments:     At edge of pond with scope.  Need help identifying
> duck
>> 5 species
>> 
>> Mallard  2     Note blue speculum
>> Ruddy Duck  1     When I first saw this duck through binos, it was
> with 2
>> larger ducks and was diving constantly. Of note was the stiff, long
> tail
>> seen when bird dove.  Plumage was brown with what appeared to be a
> whitish
>> throat and belly. Five min later I was viewing it through my scope.
> Bird
>> was grooming, preening, stretching and flapping wings. There seemed
> to be
>> some white on wing primaries seen when preening. There was some
> prominent
>> flash of white in the area of the 'wing pit'  - 020 jpg. altho. the
>> underside of the wing was dark.
>> Double-crested Cormorant  2
>> Purple Finch  1     seen at nearby feeder
>> American Goldfinch  1
>> 
>> View this checklist online at
> https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S59118193
>> 
>> This report was generated automatically by eBird v3
> (https://ebird.org/home)