Thursday, August 15, 2013

Why do birds molt?


Molting Bird
Feathers wear out, as clothes do, and need to be replaced. The process is called “molting.”  Birds molt their feathers at least once a year, in late summer or early fall.  Feathers are made from a substance called “keratin.”  

It is basically the same material your hair is made of.  In molting, old worn feathers drop out of their sockets in a bird’s skin and new ones grow in their place.  

Some birds grow bright, new feathers for the nesting season. These birds molt twice a year.  Most birds molt just a few feathers at a time, so they are able to fly during molting periods.–Dick Rogers