Why Do Birds Molt?
Molting is basically a tire change. Birds are able to rid themselves of worn, damaged feathers and replace them with beautiful new plumage. Since feathers are responsible for more than just a bird’s ability to fly, molting is even more critical than one might initially think. Feathers also provide weather protection, making a bird virtually waterproof. The feathers on a bird’s body overlap and the individual tines on each feather actually interlock. The net effect is an aerodynamic rain-sheet – wind and water slide right off with little resistance. Some species even change into a colorful breeding plumage in order to attract a mate. The male American Goldfinch, a bird commonly seen at bird feeders throughout much of the U.S., molts before the breeding season, changing into its distinctive bright yellow suit with a black cap. In the late summer to early fall, after the young have fledged, he molts into his basic plumage – a somber olive green, very similar to his mate’s coloring. When D
