Field identification of individual Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax males using plumage patterns.

We examine the variability in phenotypic characteristics in Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax males to determine which are the elements that better allow individual recognition throughout a season. Six variables were chosen, for which individual variations could be classed into clearly distinguishable categories and for which all categories were well represented among the males present in our study population. These variables were: continuity of the white collar across the nape, colour pattern of the throat, symmetry of