Remigial and rectricial molt sequences in a captive Ryukyu Scops-Owl (Otus elegans)

Abstract

We describe the remigial and rectricial molt sequences of a Ryukyu Scops-Owl (Otus elegans) held in captivity on Minami-daito Island, Nansei Islands, southern Japan. The owl completely shed its remiges and rectrices during its preformative molt as well as during its definitive prebasic molts in 3 consecutive years. In the preformative molt, the primaries were all shed during October, November, and December, in distal order from P1. Although all 4 groups of secondaries were shed in proximal order, the sequence may have been caused by adventitious shedding under captive conditions. During definitive prebasic molt, the primaries were shed in distal order during the period from June to September. The secondaries were shed from 3 nodes in 4 feather groups; 3 groups were shed in proximal order, but the remaining group was shed in distal order. The primary coverts were shed in exact sequence with their corresponding primaries during the definitive prebasic molt, but in a different sequence during the preformative molt. Whereas the greater coverts were shed irregularly during the early part of the primary covert molt, the median coverts were shed during the first half of the primary covert molt. The alula feathers were shed distally over a period of weeks. The right rectrices were shed in irregular order over a short period (12 days) and the left rectrices were shed over a long period (at least 82 days). The shedding sequence of the captive Ryukyu Scops-Owl basically followed the known pattern previously observed in Strigidae species. The captive individual underwent a complete molt when it was a juvenile as a result of being provided with sufficient food, and presumably because of the lower energy demands of being in a cage.