Molting in Birds
Molting or Moulting in Birds
In birds, molting is the periodic replacement of feathers by shedding old feathers while producing new ones. Feathers are dead structures at maturity, and they become gradually worn down and need to be replaced. Adult birds molt at least once a year, though many molt twice, and a few three times. It is a comparatively slow process, as a bird never sheds all its feathers at once; it must keep enough of its feathers to regulate its body temperature and repel moisture. The amount of shed feathers varies. In some molting periods, a bird may renew only the feathers on the head and body, shedding the wing and tail feathers during a later molting period.
Note: I’ve observed that molting had happened more that once in a short period of time and it might have been triggered by the intense heat of the actual hot summer. The molt process can be altered by changes on dietary ingestion, temperature or presence of molds or mites invasion.
All the photos were taken on the same day August 2nd, 2012
Click on first image to see enlargements
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- Tufted Titmouse
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- Song Sparrow
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- Northern Cardinal (F)
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- Common Grackle (M)
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- Eastern Towhee (F)
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- Northern Mockingbird
Text and photographs are Ā© H.J. Ruiz – Avian 101
H.J. Ruiz - Avian101 
All of our lawns are strewn with molted feathers – thanks for the informational post because I was beginning to wonder if they needed some sort of extra vitamin – so relieved that this is normal!
I’m glad that my info helped you Julie. All birds molt at least once a year, they renew their feathers for better protection. Thanks for sharing! š
Thanks for the info! I didn’t know the shed the old feathers so often (once a year), I always thought it happened less frequently.
Thank you for sharing! š
Great info HJ, thanks for sharing!
š