Moult in captive partially migratory and sedentary Australian silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) (Zosteropidae)

Abstract

In this study, we describe and compare the duration and timing of post-breeding moult of primary and secondary wing feathers, tail feathers, wing coverts and body feathers in captive partially migratory and non-migratory Australian silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis). This study allowed us to follow individual birds through the course of their moult and record the progression of moult in two populations. Both groups of birds underwent a conventional (or basic) post-breeding moult. While all birds followed a similar pattern of feather replacement, differences were found in the timing and duration of moult between migratory and nonmigratory birds. The migratory birds generally started their moult earlier in the year and completed it before the non-migratory birds. The migratory birds revealed an overall uniformity in the timing and duration of their moult, while the non-migratory birds showed a greater degree of variability between individuals.

New evidence of feathers in the Crato Formation supporting a reappraisal on the presence of Aves

“…Meanwhile the turnover of covert feathers is high since they are numerous and significantly smaller, changing without a certain number or specific body part (Ellis et al 2006). Consequently, the time of such molt is significantly lower than the flight molt (Munro et al 2006). Because flight feather molting is of fundamental importance to many aspects of avian biology (Rohwer 2008), it is easier to find molted feathers of the body (such as contour, semiplume and down feathers) than remiges and rectrices.…”

Moult strategies of Cory’s Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea borealis: the influence of colony location, sex and individual breeding status

“…It is therefore rare for moult to coincide with other energy-demanding annual events, such as reproduction and migration (Payne 1969;Rubolini et al 2002;Bridge 2006;Munro et al 2006;Newton 2008). Circannual rhythms are involved in the regulation of these important seasonal processes (Gwinner 2003).…”

“…There is an extensive body of literature describing differences in moult strategies among populations of birds (Hemborg et al 2001;Helm and Gwinner 2006;Munro et al 2006), but most of these differences are related to differences in breeding phenology (Arroyo et al 2004) or in migration schedules (Yuri and Rohwer 1997;Munro et al 2006;Newton 2008). In contrast, there are only a few studies examining whether the flexibility in moult strategies is influenced by differences in food availability or habitat quality (Borras et al 2004).…”

Daily and seasonal activity patterns of partially migratory and nonmigratory subspecies of the Australian silvereye, Zosterops lateralis, in captivity

“…However, common time frames were needed to allow for comparisons between subspecies. The comparisons were based on the seasonal events in the annual cycle of the Tasmanian birds (see Munro et al 2006;Funnell and Munro 2007) and are as follows: The breeding and molt periods were combined as these two events can overlap for the mainland birds (Keast 1953;Swanson 1971;Higgins et al 2006) and differ between individuals. Comparison of activity levels on days when the birds were fed and cleaned with those of days when the birds were left undisturbed showed that our presence in the holding rooms did not affect activity levels.…”

“…Both juvenile and adult Tasmanian silvereyes orient seasonally appropriately in captivity during autumn and spring (Wiltschko et al 1993(Wiltschko et al , 1994(Wiltschko et al , 1998a(Wiltschko et al , 2002Munro et al 1997a, b), while mainland nonmigratory silvereyes do not do so at any time of the year (Funnell and Munro 2007). Tasmanian silvereyes also show physiological differences related to migration, such as faster and earlier molt and higher fat levels than the mainland birds (Nou 2002;Skelton 2003;Munro et al 2006;Funnell 2007).…”