Molting is a natural process that all birds go through where they shed old, worn out feathers and grow new ones. This allows the bird to maintain healthy plumage and is essential for them to be able to fly effectively. There are some key signs you can look for to determine if a bird is currently molting or getting ready to molt soon.
Changes in plumage
One of the most obvious signs a bird is molting is if you notice its feathers looking ragged, frayed or falling out. Healthy feathers are smooth and lie neatly against the body, so when they start becoming disheveled, it’s a clear indicator the molt is underway. You may see large gaps in the plumage where multiple feathers are missing or have broken shafts. The bird’s color can also appear faded or mottled.
Some birds may pluck out their own feathers to make room for new ones growing in underneath. So excessively bare patches and loose feathers on the ground around a bird can signal it’s molting. The wings and tail are usually the first areas to show feather loss.
Excessive preening
Birds use preening as a way to maintain their plumage even when they aren’t molting. But when the molt begins, birds spend more time preening to remove sheaths from emerging pin feathers and sometimes ingest the dropped feathers as a supplement.
Observe the bird closely to see if it seems to be preening constantly. Look for evidence of emerging pin feathers, which will have a waxy keratin sheath over them that the bird will work at removing. Spend some time watching to determine if the preening seems excessive compared to the bird’s normal behavior.
Changes in behavior
Molting is physically taxing on birds and causes them to act differently than normal. Slowed activity levels and increased rest are common as the growth of new feathers requires extra energy. You may notice a molting bird spending more time sleeping or perched quietly.
Reduced vocalizations can also indicate a molt since birds focus their energy internally. Birds that normally sing a lot, like canaries and finches, will often stop singing when molting. Social and flocking birds may become more isolated until their molt completes.
These behavior changes are temporary and allow the bird to conserve energy as their new plumage comes in. Activity levels and vocalizations should return to normal once the molt is over.
Increased food consumption
Growing new feathers requires protein and you may see increased appetite in a molting bird. Keep an eye on how much a bird is eating if you suspect a molt. Birds that normally aren’t big eaters may suddenly act very hungry and consume more food than usual.
You may need to provide high protein foods to support the molt. Good options include soaked seeds, cooked eggs, beans, nuts, mealworms, crickets and pellets designed for molting birds. Avoid fatty foods and stick to healthy options that provide complete nutrition. Monitor portion sizes as well since overeating can cause health issues.
Visible pin feathers
New feathers coming in are called pin feathers because they first emerge from the skin as a pin-like quill ensheathed in a waxy coating. As they grow longer, the sheath breaks off revealing the feather vane underneath.
Look closely through your bird’s plumage for signs of pin feathers protruding through the skin. They will appear like thin spines of varying lengths jutting out along the body, wings and tail. The presence of pin feathers is a sure confirmation that the bird is molting.
| Stage of Growth | Appearance |
|---|---|
| Early pin feather | Looks like a pin or needle poking out of the skin |
| Developing feather | Longer quill partially enclosed in a waxy sheath |
| Fully formed feather | Sheath has flaked off revealing smoother feather vane |
Increased need to bathe
Birds use bathing as a way to maintain healthy feathers and skin. During the growth of new feathers, birds may spend more time splashing in baths or showers. The bathing helps them preen away sheaths covering emerging feathers and keeps their skin and plumage in optimal condition.
If your bird’s bathing increases noticeably compared to normal, it may be related to a molt. Ensure your bird has ample opportunity to bathe and provide larger tubs or showers if needed. You can offer baths more frequently to support your bird’s desire for increased water contact during this time.
Effects of stress hormones
Molting is initiated in part by an increase in steroid stress hormones like corticosterone. These hormones rise naturally as days get shorter signaling a molt typically in late summer to early fall.
Stress can mimic this effect though and cause unexpected molting any time of year. Look for potential stressors like loud noises, construction, lack of routine or major home changes that could be elevating your bird’s hormones. If such factors are present, address them to reduce the stress triggering excessive molting.
Seasonal timing
Most birds molt on a seasonal cycle with natural molts happening once or twice per year. Molting generally aligns with breeding seasons as birds shed worn breeding plumage and grow fresh feathers for courting the following year.
Here are some guidelines for when most birds undergo their annual molts:
| Type of Bird | Major Molting Season |
|---|---|
| Canaries, finches | Late summer to early fall |
| Parakeets, cockatiels | Fall |
| Lovebirds | Winter to spring |
| Parrots | Varies by species, often spring |
| Sparrows, warblers | Late summer |
If you notice molting behaviors during normal seasonal times, you can be confident it’s a natural annual molt. Out of season molting may indicate an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed.
Evidence of skin irritation
Growing feathers places stress on the follicles and skin where feathers emerge. Some inflammation and irritation is normal. But excessive itching, redness, scabbing or dry skin may signal problems.
Fungal or bacterial skin infections are a risk when birds molt since scratching can damage skin. Flaking, crusty skin around emerging feathers is a warning sign infection may be present. See an avian vet if your bird shows signs of significant skin irritation.
Age of the bird
Younger birds under three years old tend to molt more frequently as their adult plumage comes in. It’s normal for juvenile birds to have multiple partial molts their first few years. Adult birds over four years old typically only molt once or twice annually.
If your bird seems to be constantly molting, look at their age as increased molting early on is expected. Younger birds may need extra nutritional support to help them handle the demands of frequent feather replacement.
Presence of molt limiters
Some birds have special molt inhibiting feathers called molt limiters that delay wing and tail molts until the limiters are shed. This prevents birds from missing multiple flight feathers at once and being unable to fly. Shedding the molt limiters triggers rapid replacement of the wing and tail feathers in a synchronized way.
Check your bird’s wings and tail for the presence of stiff, retained feathers amidst new growth. These are likely molt limiters indicating a limited molt is starting. Support your bird nutritionally while these important feathers grow in.
Diagnosis from an avian vet
If you remain uncertain about whether your bird is molting, an examination by an avian vet can provide definitive confirmation. They will inspect your bird’s skin and feathers closely to diagnose molting and rule out any health problems contributing to abnormal feather loss.
Vets can also perform tests on molted feathers like faecal corticosterone levels which measure stress hormones. This can reveal if stress is elevating corticosterone and triggering excessive molts. Any unusual molting issues should be reported to your vet.
Conclusion
Noticing the signs of molting allows bird owners to provide ideal care and nutrition during this taxing period. Pay attention for increased preening, pin feathers, voracious appetites, sedentary behavior and patchy plumage. Most molts happen seasonally, but unusual timing could mean illness. Support your molting bird with patience and ample rest as their bright new feathers grow in. If you have concerns about abnormal molting or your bird’s health, an avian vet can assess the situation and offer treatment recommendations. With attentive monitoring and care, your bird will regain their glorious feathers and return to normal in no time!
