Peterson Reference Guide to Molt in North American Birds (Peterson Reference Guides)

Product Description
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 strategies: 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.

A Look Inside Peterson Reference Guide to Molt in North American Birds
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

Notice the long “breeding plumes” on this adult Great Egret.
(Marin County, CA, 15 Mar. 2008)The bright red epaulettes of a male Red-winged Blackbird are used for display. (Marin County, CA, 13 Mar. 2008)A Greater Sage-Grouse male showing the limited prealternate molt of head and neck feathers. (Jackson County, CO, 26 Apr. 2008)The scapulars on this first-cycle Double-crested Cormorant cover the joint between the wings and the body. (Sonoma County, CA, 23 Dec. 2008)The wirelike tail streamers of a Red-tailed Tropicbird require almost 6 months to reach their full length. (Norfolk Island, Australia, 29 Mar. 2007)A Snail Kite hawk showing stepwise waves of wing molt.
(Nayarit, Mexico, 15 Jan. 2007)