Polymorphic Flight-Feather Molt Sequence in Tufted Puffins (Fratercula Cirrhata): A Rare Phenomenon in Birds
Abstract Previous reports have stated that Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) lose all of their flight feathers simultaneously (or nearly so) during flight-feather molt and replace them in no apparent order. In contrast, we found that captive second-year (SY) Tufted Puffins (1) typically require 1...
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/auk/121.1.35 2024-04-07T07:52:31+00:00 Polymorphic Flight-Feather Molt Sequence in Tufted Puffins (Fratercula Cirrhata): A Rare Phenomenon in Birds Thompson, Christopher W. Kitaysky, Alexander S. Nettleship, D. N. 2004 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/121.1.35 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/121/1/35/29687669/auk0035.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) The Auk volume 121, issue 1, page 35-45 ISSN 1938-4254 0004-8038 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2004 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/121.1.35 2024-03-08T03:01:35Z Abstract Previous reports have stated that Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) lose all of their flight feathers simultaneously (or nearly so) during flight-feather molt and replace them in no apparent order. In contrast, we found that captive second-year (SY) Tufted Puffins (1) typically require 15 and 10 days to lose their primaries and secondaries, respectively, during their first flight-feather molt, and an average of 21 days to lose all of their remiges; and (2) replace their primaries in either of two discrete sequences. In 9 of 13 birds, primary molt began at the innermost primary, P1, and progressed distally to the outermost functional primary, P10. However, in the remaining four birds, primary molt began in the middle of the primaries (P5-P7) and progressed both distally to P10 and proximally toward P1. Before the proximal wave reached P1, a second wave of molt was initiated at P1 and progressed distally, typically replacing P2 and P3 before reaching the proximal wave. Such polymorphism in flight-feather molt sequence is rare in birds, having been reported previously only in a few passerine species. Secondary molt began about 13 days after onset of primary molt and finished at about the same time as primary molt, resulting in a total duration of flight-feather molt of ∼54 days and a flightless period of ∼40 days. Article in Journal/Newspaper fratercula Oxford University Press The Auk 121 1 35 45 |
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Open Polar |
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Oxford University Press |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Thompson, Christopher W. Kitaysky, Alexander S. Polymorphic Flight-Feather Molt Sequence in Tufted Puffins (Fratercula Cirrhata): A Rare Phenomenon in Birds |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract Previous reports have stated that Tufted Puffins (Fratercula cirrhata) lose all of their flight feathers simultaneously (or nearly so) during flight-feather molt and replace them in no apparent order. In contrast, we found that captive second-year (SY) Tufted Puffins (1) typically require 15 and 10 days to lose their primaries and secondaries, respectively, during their first flight-feather molt, and an average of 21 days to lose all of their remiges; and (2) replace their primaries in either of two discrete sequences. In 9 of 13 birds, primary molt began at the innermost primary, P1, and progressed distally to the outermost functional primary, P10. However, in the remaining four birds, primary molt began in the middle of the primaries (P5-P7) and progressed both distally to P10 and proximally toward P1. Before the proximal wave reached P1, a second wave of molt was initiated at P1 and progressed distally, typically replacing P2 and P3 before reaching the proximal wave. Such polymorphism in flight-feather molt sequence is rare in birds, having been reported previously only in a few passerine species. Secondary molt began about 13 days after onset of primary molt and finished at about the same time as primary molt, resulting in a total duration of flight-feather molt of ∼54 days and a flightless period of ∼40 days. |
author2 |
Nettleship, D. N. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Thompson, Christopher W. Kitaysky, Alexander S. |
author_facet |
Thompson, Christopher W. Kitaysky, Alexander S. |
author_sort |
Thompson, Christopher W. |
title |
Polymorphic Flight-Feather Molt Sequence in Tufted Puffins (Fratercula Cirrhata): A Rare Phenomenon in Birds |
title_short |
Polymorphic Flight-Feather Molt Sequence in Tufted Puffins (Fratercula Cirrhata): A Rare Phenomenon in Birds |
title_full |
Polymorphic Flight-Feather Molt Sequence in Tufted Puffins (Fratercula Cirrhata): A Rare Phenomenon in Birds |
title_fullStr |
Polymorphic Flight-Feather Molt Sequence in Tufted Puffins (Fratercula Cirrhata): A Rare Phenomenon in Birds |
title_full_unstemmed |
Polymorphic Flight-Feather Molt Sequence in Tufted Puffins (Fratercula Cirrhata): A Rare Phenomenon in Birds |
title_sort |
polymorphic flight-feather molt sequence in tufted puffins (fratercula cirrhata): a rare phenomenon in birds |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/121.1.35 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/121/1/35/29687669/auk0035.pdf |
genre |
fratercula |
genre_facet |
fratercula |
op_source |
The Auk volume 121, issue 1, page 35-45 ISSN 1938-4254 0004-8038 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/121.1.35 |
container_title |
The Auk |
container_volume |
121 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
35 |
op_container_end_page |
45 |
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1795667911288815616 |