The Energetic Cost of Feather Synthesis Is Proportional to Basal Metabolic Rate

Abstract

The cost of feather production, $C_{f}$ (kJ · [g dry feathers]⁻¹), differs substantially between species. We studied the molt cost in one insectivorous songbird (bluethroat, Luscinia s. svecica) and one granivorous songbird (common redpoll, Carduelis f. flammea). We wanted to test whether diferences in diet, body mass (or basal metabolic rate, BMR), or the latitude of molt could explain interspecific differences. In each individual, the resting metabolism, as measured by indirect calorimetry, was positively correlated with feather production rate. The cost of feather synthesis was estimated at 836 and 683 kJ · (g dry feathers)⁻¹ in the bluethroats and redpolls, respectively. The efciency of feather production was 2.6% and 3.1%. It was concluded that neither diet nor latitudinal constraints alone could explain the differences found between species. The cost of feather production was significantly correlated with both body mass and mass-specific BMR, $BMR_{m}$ (kJ · g⁻¹ · d⁻¹), where $BMR_{m}$ currently sho...