On Throw Back Thursday:
Many birds molt during summer’s “down time” between raising their young and fall migration. At this point their feathers have worn out.
However (news to me!) female peregrine falcons choose a different time of year. They begin to molt during incubation, a convenient time to do it because they’re temporarily sedentary and their mates supply their food. That’s why we sometimes see a peregrine primary feather in the nest box. Who knew!
Read more about feather wear and molting in this vintage article: Feathers Wear Out
(photo from Wikimedia, in the public domain. Click on the photo to see the original)
hi Kate — as usual, unrelated question: we have at least 2 mockingbirds in the back yard, very visible. When they see me or a cat they make a buzzy alarm call (?). But recently I hear (don’t see) someone calling peeeeeep (high-pitched, rising tone). It’s not the mockingbirds; could it be their hungry kids in nest? I thought catbird, but Cornell sample doesn’t sound like it.
Thanks — Kathy B
Kathy, yes you are hearing the begging call of a young mockingbird. So the nest was successful. 🙂
Interesting. Perhaps because they brood all their eggs at the same time for a considerable time that they were able to develop that habit. I wonder if any other birds that brood at the same time have similar molting habits.