This molt is a complete prebasic molt, and includes not just body feathers but also all the flight feathers. As you can see, this bird is pretty pathetic looking.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rJw5bp6W1Po/SKxh-dKdOII/AAAAAAAAACY/frJgxGo-Vvs/s400/TEWA+molting+scruffy.jpg)
It was molting 4 of its 9 primaries (outer wing feathers), a few secondaries (the inner wing feathers), and all of its rectrices (tail feathers). Yes, it could still fly quite well!
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rJw5bp6W1Po/SKxi4MDiSsI/AAAAAAAAACo/qhHNceetdB0/s400/TEWA+wing+molt+annotated.jpg)
Molt migration is common in waterfowl, and more common in songbirds in the western U.S. The other common molt migrant here is Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus); about 2% of RRBO's fall birds are molt migrants.
A little more information:
- An overview of bird molt -- Cornell's All About Birds
- Tennessee Warbler, featured bird -- Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
- Tennessee Warblers are a classic example of a North American migrant that winters on shade coffee plantations -- Coffee & Conservation
1 comment:
This is a great post!
I need to learn more about molts
I didn't know you had a blog-good to know :D
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