Abstract
The replacement and growth of 311 primary feathers of eight captive male rock pigeons, Columba livia Gmelin, 1789 were monitored daily. Feather replacement was recorded in all months, but the primaries 1 to 5 (innermost primaries) were replaced mostly from September to December, whereas the primaries 6 to 10 (outermost primaries) were more frequently replaced from January to August. Each primary was held in plumage from six to fifteen months, but the lifetime of the outer feathers was longer than that of the inner feathers. A new primary emerges two or three days after its predecessor has been dropped, but the primaries replacing the feathers accidentally lost during bird handling emerge only after about eight days. The average growth period of a primary ranged from 21 to 37 days, with the larger and outermost feathers exhibiting a longer growth period. A constant average growth rate of 4 to 5 mm/day was found for all primaries until the last two days of growth, when the growth rate of the feathers became progressively slower. Bilateral symmetry in the primary replacement, when the same feather is replaced simultaneously in both wings, was not significant (22.2%) in the birds monitored in this study.
Highlights
Feathers are the diagnostic feature of the birds
Primary 1 (P1) to Primary 5 (P5) were almost completely molted from September to December, whereas Primary 6 (P6) to Primary 10 (P10) were mostly replaced from January to August
Data on the growth of wild bird feathers has been mainly obtained through studies of growth bands (WHITE et al 1991, ROHWER & WANG 2010, JOVANI et al 2011) and capture-recapture programs involving banded birds (GRUBB et al 1991, MALLETRODRIGUES et al 1995)
Summary
Feathers are the diagnostic feature of the birds. Because old feathers are less efficient, in flight, they need to be replaced when they become worn out (STRESEMANN & STRESEMANN 1966). Some large birds replace their entire plumage every two years, whereas other birds replace their feathers almost continuously throughout the year (EDWARDS & ROHWER 2005, EDWARDS 2008) These birds have multiple waves of primary replacement proceeding simultaneously on each wing. Considerable energy is spent during the molting process, from 15 to 30% above of the basal metabolic rate (ALTMAN 1982, MCKIBBEN & HARRISON 1986), because feathers contain 20 to 30% of the structural proteins of a bird (ALTMAN 1982). The replacement of flight feathers in most birds is sequential, bilaterally symmetrical, and follows a centrifugal pattern. The primary molt is an event of great importance in the life of birds, because the primaries are directly related to their ability to fly (STRESEMANN & STRESEMANN 1966)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call