Having spent a lot of time looking at molt in Gulls on the other side of the
big pond, I just have to say that it seems completely pointless trying to
determine what a bird SHOULD be doing based on theoretical considerations,
which will surely have been based on studies of a small number of species.
Whatever happens in chooks and ducks may have nothing at all relevant to say
about what happens in Spinifexbirds.
Preconceptions will often be the worst enemy when trying to see what is
going on. Dwight was so convinced that Gulls have a complete molt in the
fall that he stated that Western Gulls have "a complete postnuptial moult in
August and September." This seems to have been based on a single specimen
which had already replaced all but one of its primaries by August 3! In
fact, the molt he was talking about starts in April and May. And the primary
molt begins later as the bird ages. Western Gulls are abundant along the
west coast of North America, yet nearly everything you read about their molt
turns out to be completely wrong when you actually look at it, even when it
comes down to how MANY molts there are!
Cheers, Chris.
Chris Corben
PO Box 2323
Rohnert Park, CA, 94927-2323
USA
707-584-8711
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