Feather Moulting Factfile

Feather Moulting Factfile

You might notice some of your garden birds looking a bit scruffy right now. Every year, usually in late summer after the breeding season, the process of shedding tired, old feathers and replacing them with sprightly new ones, begins. Check out our handy guide to some fascinating facts about this important annual activity:

• August is a common month for moulting, taking place directly after an exhausting breeding season.

• Moulting occurs during late summer when the weather is still warm. Losing feathers exposes birds to the elements, which is quite a risk when so many insulating feathers are shed.

• Strong, new feathers are essential for flight, insulation, courtship displays and camouflage.

• Old feathers can wear out over time due to friction, exposure to the elements and physical damage.

• Some birds grow different plumage for winter and summer.

• Young birds undergo a partial or full moult to shed their juvenile feathers and replace them with adult plumage.

• Birds shed feathers sequentially  in a way that avoids them being unable to fly.

• Small garden birds can take around five weeks to moult.

How can you help?

• Birds need extra protein and energy to support feather regrowth, so make sure you put out plenty of high-calorie supplementary feeds such as seeds, peanuts, sunflower hearts and suet to keep them full of fuel.

• Ensure that they have access to clean water in a water drinker or  bird bath.

• Nest boxes can provide moulting birds with handy shelter to keep them safe from the weather and predators.