Peterson Reference Guide To Molt In North American Birds

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 in an accessible and engaging way.

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 truly understandable for birders at all levels.