Bird Moult question (1 Viewer)

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BobbitWorm45

Well-known member

• Apr 17, 2019

• #1

Does anyone have any links or information on detailed process of bird molting. Particularly interested in how long it takes for birds to molt body feathers from winter to spring breeding plumage.
Thanks

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Apr 17, 2019

• #2

Varies a lot from species to species. A lot of birds (e.g. thrushes, chats, buntings, finches) only moult once a year, in late summer, and change from winter plumage to summer plumage by shedding dull-coloured feather tips exposing brighter-coloured feather bases.
Any particular birds you were thinking of?

 

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BobbitWorm45

Well-known member

• Apr 18, 2019

• #3

Hi Nutty, apologies for tardy response- I'm interested particularly in how long it would take say a Scandinavian Rock Pipit (littoralis) and Water Pipit to transform from a heavily streaked breast to show the streak free blush pink breast during spring. Hope that makes sense. Cheers

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Apr 18, 2019

• #4

Thanks! Pipits do have a spring moult; I don't have any info myself about timings, hope someone else does :t:

 

Mark Lew1s

My real name is Mark Lewis

• Apr 18, 2019

• #5

There might be something useful in here:

https://issuu.com/angelc7/docs/moult_and_ageing_of_european_passer

 

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BobbitWorm45

Well-known member

• Apr 18, 2019

• #6

Many thanks Mark, I'll have a browse through that, cheers

 

RafaelMatias

Unknown member

• Apr 18, 2019

• #7

Fat Paul Scholes said:

There might be something useful in here:

https://issuu.com/angelc7/docs/moult_and_ageing_of_european_passer

Click to expand...

Whilst that book is (still) a fantastic resource, it is focused mostly on wing moult (also some tail moult), and on using this knowledge to age birds in hand (it was usually regarded as a photographic complement to the Svensson passerine guide).
Body moult is not covered there. Note that some birds undergo continuous body moult throughout the year, as large raptors, for example. Wing moult tends to take place post-breeding only (once a year), but some species replace wing feathers twice a year (post and pre-breeding), of which Willow Warbler is an example.

 

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BobbitWorm45

Well-known member

• Apr 19, 2019

• #8

Thanks Rafael, it's an interesting read though and does give a few pointers on body molt, but agree, not great detail.