Moult of the Red-Necked Stint

Thomas, D.G.; Dartnall, Alan J.

doi:10.1071/mu971049

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…The rapid moult of some Curlew Sandpipers in Morocco contrasts sharply with the situation in Tasmania (Thomas & Dartnall 1971a) where primary moult lasted 125-130 days, commencing on arrival throughout the period 8 August to 30 November. The difference in rate cannot be accounted for by differences in the numbers of feathers growing concurrently.…”

Section: Dunlin Calidris Alpinamentioning

confidence: 69%

The Primary Moult of Waders on the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

Pienkowski

Knight

Stanyard³

et al. 1976

Ibis

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Summary Data from 3659 waders of 23 species live‐trapped in the years 1971‐73 on the Atlantic coast of Morocco during the period of autumn moult and migration are analysed to estimate duration and timing of primary moult. Common Sandpiper was the only species to moult primaries in its first autumn (unless published ageing criteria are incorrect). Several species showed a low incidence of arrested primary moult and a higher incidence was observed in Ringed, Kentish and Grey Plovers. This is discussed in relation to breeding and migration. Similar rates of primary feather replacement relative to specific moult duration were observed in all species for which information was available. Comparisons between species and with published studies showed that variations in rate of moulting between species and between different geographical populations of the same species were largely due to differences in feather growth rate rather than in the numbers of primaries concurrently in growth. Variations in rate between individuals of the same population were achieved, at least in the first part of moult, by differences in feather dropping rate resulting in differences in the numbers of primaries growing concurrently. The timing and duration of moult in different populations and differences between breeding and non‐breeding components were closely related to the requirements of other annual cycle activities, notably breeding and migration. Non‐breeding birds summering in Morocco had started moult early. Locally breeding birds had an early start to a fairly slow moult which overlapped with breeding and which in some cases passed through an arrested stage. Birds breeding in cold temperate and arctic regions and wintering in Morocco moulted in a short time soon after arrival. In some cases, notably in Ringed Plovers, birds had commenced moulting on the breeding grounds and arrested moult during migration. Most Redshank and possibly Dunlin migrated in active wing moult. The fastest primary moult was achieved by high arctic breeding birds, Curlew Sandpiper and possibly Little Stint, which stopped to moult in Morocco before moving on to wintering areas further south. This situation is contrasted with that of populations of these two and other species wintering in the southern hemisphere where moult occurs over an extended period during the northern winter.

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Section: Dunlin Calidris Alpinamentioning

confidence: 69%

The Primary Moult of Waders on the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

Pienkowski

Knight

Stanyard³

et al. 1976

Ibis

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“…Pearson, unpubl.). It is similar to that of Red-necked Stints Colidris ruficollis in Australia (Thomas & Dartnall 1971, Paton & Wykes 1978, but much longer than that of Least Sandpipers C. minutilla or Western Sandpipers C. mauri in California (Holmes 1972, Page 1974, or of Dunlins at the Wash, England (Johnson & Minton 1980). Duration varies greatly in the Little Stint, and is typically much shorter in young birds than adults.…”

Section: Speed and Timing Of Pke-winter Moultmentioning

confidence: 70%

The moult of the Little Stint Calidris minuta in the Kenyan rift valley

Pearson

1984

Ibis

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Moult data were collected during 1967–80 from some 6900 Little Stints in the southern Kenyan rift valley. Adults typically moulted from summer to winter body and head plumage during September and early October, soon after arrival. The complete pre‐winter wing and tail moult began in most adults between mid‐September and early October. Some birds finished by December, but others continued until February and March. Individual duration was usually between 100 and 150 days. Adults which completed this moult early often remoulted outer primaries between January and early April. Young birds acquired first‐winter body plumage during October and early November. Some 90% had a complete pre‐winter wing and tail moult. This usually began between December and early February, and finished during March or early April, taking about 70–100 days. In about 10% of young birds, flight feather moult was restricted to the outer primaries and inner secondaries. Birds adopting this strategy typically began moult late, during January or February. Short periods of suspension were common during pre‐winter wing moult, particularly in adults. The difference in moult speed between adult arid first‐winter birds was attributable in the primary, secondary and tail tracts to differences in numbers of growing feathers. Practically all birds completed a pre‐summer moult involving the entire body and head plumage, most of the tertials, some or all of the tail feathers and many wing coverts. Most birds began this moult between early February and late March, and finished between mid‐April and early May. It was typically later and more rapid in first‐year birds than adults. In late birds, the onset of pre‐summer moult was linked to the final stages of pre‐winter moult. The wing moult of the Little Stint in different wintering areas is discussed. First‐winter moult strategy is compared with that in other small Calidris species.

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“…Some recent estimates of duration (e.g. Thomas & Dartnall 1971a, b, Boere 1976 have been based on an assumption that primary score increases more or less linearly with time. However, this is not generally the case in waders, which replace short inner ptimaries much more quickly than long outer ones.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The relative timing of replacement of the major tracts during pre-winter moult in scolopacids has recently been indicated by a number of authors (e.g. Stresemann & Stresemann 1966, Holmes 1966, Thomas & Dartnall 1971a, b, Page 1974, Blotzheim et al 1975, Boere 1976, Morrison 1976). The overall wing and tail moult process seems to be very stereotyped, and almost identical sequences of replacement have been observed in Kenya in the Ruff, the Little Stint, the Curlew Sandpiper and the Wood Sandpiper.…”

Section: Ibis 123mentioning

confidence: 94%

THE WINTERING AND MOULT OF RUFFS PHILOMACHUS PUGNAX IN THE KENYAN RIFT VALLEY

Pearson

1981

Ibis

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Summary Some 5700 Ruffs were ringed in the southern Kenyan rift valley during 1967–79, mainly at Lakes Nakuru and Magadi. These have produced 15 recoveries outside East Africa, 14 in Siberia between 73° and 154°E and one in India. Adult males returned to Kenya mainly during August, and females during late August and early September. Females greatly outnumbered males at all times. Most wintering males departed late in March and early in April, but females not until about a month later. First‐year birds appeared from the end of August, but remained in low numbers until late October or November. Most departed during April and May, but a few females oversummered. First‐year birds typically accounted for about 25% of the wintering Nakuru females, but about 50% of those at Magadi. At both sites they accounted for a higher proportion of male birds than females. Most of the birds at Nakuru throughout late August to May appeared to be local winterers, and many individuals remained in the area for many months each year. Retrapping indicated that approximately 60% of each season's birds returned the following season. Adult males and most adult females commenced pre‐winter wing moult before arrival, but completed most of it in Kenya. Males moulted 3–4 weeks ahead of females, and most had finished before December. Females typically finished during December and early January. Most second year birds timed their pre‐winter moult similarly to older adults. Suspension was recorded in over 15% of all moulting birds examined. Adult pre‐summer moult involved most or all of the tertials, some or all of the tail feathers, most of the inner wing coverts and the body and head plumage. It occurred mainly during January to March (males) or February to April (females), although tertial renewal commonly began a month earlier. Males showed no sign in Kenya of the supplementary prenuptial moult. First‐year birds moulted from juvenile into first winter body plumage during late September to November. They underwent a pre‐summer moult similar in extent and timing to that of adults, and again about a month earlier in males than females. Spring feathers acquired were often as brightly coloured as those of adults. About 15% of first‐year birds renewed their outer 2–4 pairs of large primaries during January to April. Adult and first‐year birds fattened before spring departure, commonly reaching weights 30–60% above winter mean. Weights of adult males peaked early in April, those of adult females early in May, and those of first‐winter females later in May. Weights were relatively high also during August and September. This was due to the arrival of wintering birds carrying ‘spare’ reserves, and also apparently to the presence of a late moulting fattening passage contingent. The wing length of newly moulted adults was about 3 mm longer than that of newly arrived first‐year birds, but there was no evidence of an increase in the wing kngth of adults with successive moults. Adult wing length decreased by 4–5 mm between the completion of one moult and the...

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Moult of the Red-Necked Stint

Cited by 11 publications

References 9 publications

The Primary Moult of Waders on the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

The Primary Moult of Waders on the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

The moult of the Little Stint Calidris minuta in the Kenyan rift valley

THE WINTERING AND MOULT OF RUFFS PHILOMACHUS PUGNAX IN THE KENYAN RIFT VALLEY

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