Migration and molt affect how birds change their colors – Phys.org

In late summer and autumn, millions of birds fly above our heads, often at night, winging their way toward their wintering grounds.
Before the journey, many birds molt their bright feathers, replacing them with a more subdued palette. Watching this molt led scientists to wonder how feather color changes relate to the migrations many birds undertake twice each year. Molt mattersnot only because replacing worn feathers is necessary for flight, but because molt is the catalyst for plumage changes that…

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