Bird Molting and Plumage Transformation

In late summer most song birds shed old feathers and grow new ones. This molting process greatly changes the birds appearance. What many people think is a disease on the birds is actually a natural process of replacing worn with healthy feathers in preparation for winter cold or the long flights of migration.

Some birds actually change feather color from bright to drab colors like the male American Goldfinch and Scarlet Tanager. It’s very exciting to see this transformation taking place in my backyard.

Blue Jay in molting process

Blue Jay after molting

Northern Cardinal in molting process

Northern Cardinal after molting

Indigo Bunting in molting process

Indigo Bunting after molting process. (Breeding plumage)

Yellow-rumped Warbler in molting process

Yellow-rumped Warbler after molting process. (Breeding plumage)

American Goldfinch in molting process

American Goldfinch after molting process. (Breeding plumage)

Scarlet Tanager-male before molting process. (Breeding Plumage)

Scarlet Tanager-male after molting process. (Migration plumage)