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Bird - Lore
the nest. The Ptarmigan also have a similar protective plumage. but their wing- quills are molted in regular succession. Owing to the great variation in the time at which different species molt, there is no time in the year when molting birds may not be found. The postjuvenal molt of some birds will overlap the prenuptial of others, and the prenuptial of others seems to overlap even the postnuptial. Partial molts produce mixed plumages and the feathers that. not so long ago. were‘ supposed to change color without molt. Keeping in mind that each species has a definite sequence of molts and plumages. we shall the more readily understand vari- ations and mixed plumages. in birds like the Purple Finch which molt but once in the year. we find no mixed plumages. Young Purple Finches remain a year in brown, and then molt into the pink plu- mage. Many other species, however. like the Rose-breasted Grosbeak or the San- derling, rnolt twice a year. and the partial prenuptial molt gives the confusing mix— ture of old and new feathers so often
found, especially in young birds and females that vary between wide limits
in the extent of the renewal.
The adult Baltimore Oriole molts once in
the year. while the young bird undergoes a prenuptial molt of all the body
feathers. peculiar to each species.
And so there is a particular sequence of melts and plumages
Those who care to turn to the fascinating study of molt will find the following table a simple and useful guide:
I. Natal plumage followed by postnatal molt.
2. Juvenal plumage followed by postjuvenal molt.
3. First winter plumage followed by first prenuptial molt.
4,. First nuptial plumage followed by first postnuptial molt.
[First protective plumage followed by first postprotective molc.]
5. Second winter plumage followed by second prenuptial molt, etc.
.\'nt every species may have all of these melts and plumages, but this is the order in which they would naturally follow.
