The Biology of Moult in Birds

(Hardback)

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The first comprehensive review of all aspects of the biology of moult, drawing information from across the literature and in all birds, from penguins to passerines. Feathers are amazing structures unique to birds and, for a variety of reasons, they need to be renewed periodically as a whole in a process called moult. During this process, all of the functions of plumage are impaired and most aspects of a birds life are affected. Every moult determines a birds appearance anew, and restores plumage efficacy for flight and insulation. Moult profoundly affects physiology and the organization of the annual cycle, and it constrains reproduction and migration. Given these major impacts, which are equal to the other annual challenges of reproduction and migration, it is surprising that research on moult has largely been so neglected a subject. Lukas Jenni and Raffael Winkler have brought together the widely scattered results of studies on the processes and consequences of moult in birds. This book opens with an overview of the functions of plumage, and of feather maintenance and feather wear, and then introduces the two functions of moult: replacement of worn feathers and adjustment of plumage characteristics and appearance. The body of the book then examines feather-growth and the physiology, energetics and control of moult, and how various other physiological processes interact with moult and may compensate for its costs. Significantly, the authors explain how variations in moult and feather quality affect a birds overall plumage quality, and they highlight the resulting consequences in terms of physical performance, appearance and signalling. Finally, there is a review of all the various solutions that birds have developed to fit moult into the annual cycle. This long-awaited book covers for the first time all aspects of the biology of moult and fills an important gap in the literature, completing our understanding of how the most important annual events in a birds life fit together into a coherent whole. It draws on a wide range of information from penguins to small passerines, from raptors to wildfowl to highlight the variety of the subject and to pinpoint the many gaps in our knowledge along with avenues for fruitful further research.

Reviews

A tour de force, covering aspects of moult which most of us had never considered. -- Chris Perrins * Ibis *
It's easy to recommend this book; extremely well written, clear and avoids overly technical language ... the authors are true masters of moult. * British Birds *
An outstanding book that fills a necessary gap in our current understanding of this essential and far-reaching process. we found the book novel, necessary, and inspiring, and we are excited to see the developments it will trigger. * ISBE Newsletter *
Lukas Jenni and Raffael Winkler present the most comprehensive review of all aspects of molt Fascinating and inspiring, equally for learning about existing knowledge and for perceiving areas that need major attention within ornithology it distills an incredible amount of information relevant to both newcomers and old-timers working on molt. It not only creates a hunger for the subject, but it tasks us to give molt its proper place: a central theme in ornithology. * Ornithology *

Author Bio

Lukas Jenni and Raffael Winkler are among Europes foremost ornithologists. Their first book, Moult and Ageing of European Passerines, quickly became a seminal work for all European ringers. They have recently completed a second edition of this work, the product of more than twenty years of scholarship. Both Lukas and Raffael are based in Switzerland.