Molt in North American Birds

Peterson Reference Guides

by Steve N.G. Howell

To most observers, molt seems an overwhelming subject. But birders use many aspects of molt more than they realize—to distinguish juvenile birds from adults, to pick out an individual hummingbird from among dozens visiting a feeder, and much more. And for those whose interest goes beyond simply identifying birds, questions such as What triggers molt to start? How fast do feathers grow? and How long do they last? offer a fascinating window into the lives of birds. Put plainly, molt relates in some way to everything a bird does, including where it lives, what it eats, and how far it migrates. Here, for the first time, molt is presented for the nonscientist. Molt is very orderly and built on only four underlying simple basic, complex basic, simple alternate, and complex alternate. This book clearly lays out these strategies, relates them to aspects of life history, such as habitat and migration, and makes this important subject accessible.
 

Genres: Birds, Nature, Reference

280 pages, Hardcover

First published May 20, 2010

Reviews

[Chris Leuchtenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat pedantic, but with excellent photos, this book delves deeply into the process of producing feathers. There is a general treatment of molting, but the bulk of the book is a family by family description of molting strategies. A great reference, but a difficult read.

[Robert Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

quintessential for understanding the complex workings of molt in North American birds and helpfull also regardless of where you bird.