Short-term oscillations in avian molt intensity: evidence from the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos
Journal of Avian Biology
Acknowledgements: Data gathering was financed by the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Greg Depner and Joel Scrafford provided the eagle. Kery?s work was financed under grant 81ZH-64044, Swiss National Science Foundation. doi:10.1111/j.0908-8857.2006.03756.x 6626_Ellis.pdf
By: D. H. Ellis, J.W. Lish, M. Kery, and S.M. Redpath
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Abstract
From a year-long study of molt in the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos, we recorded 2069 contour feathers replaced in 137 d (6 May-19 September). Very few contour feathers were lost outside this period. From precise daily counts of feathers lost, and using time series analysis, we identified short-term fluctuations (i.e., 19-d subcycles) around a midsummer peak (i.e., a left-skewed normal distribution). Because these subcycles have never before been reported and because the physiological basis for many aspects of avian molt is poorly known, we offer only hypothetical explanations for the controls responsible for the subcycles.
Suggested Citation
Ellis, D.H., Lish, J., Kery, M., and Redpath, S., 2006, Short-term oscillations in avian molt intensity: evidence from the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos: Journal of Avian Biology, v. 37, p. 642-644.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Short-term oscillations in avian molt intensity: evidence from the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos |
| Series title | Journal of Avian Biology |
| Volume | 37 |
| Year Published | 2006 |
| Language | English |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 642-644 |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Avian Biology |
| First page | 642 |
| Last page | 644 |