01 Oct The Molting Process: A Critical Phase in an Owl’s Life
Have you ever noticed a bird with a feather that just won’t let go, like a stubborn leaf clinging to a branch? That’s exactly what we’re seeing with Aldo, our great horned owl, as he wraps up the final stages of his molt. Molting is a fascinating and essential process for birds, allowing them to shed old feathers and grow new ones. These feathers are crucial for flight, insulation, and protection.
For owls like Aldo, molting is no small feat. As feathers fall, they are replaced in a specific sequence to ensure the bird can still fly.
How Often Do Birds Molt?
Most birds, such as owls, molt once a year. Molting is an indication that the bird is in good health, on a proper diet, and not stressed. Birds that are compromised in some way will not molt because it is energetically expensive not only to grow new feathers, but also to compensate for the loss of feathers for flight and temperature regulation. In some cases, such as large owls, the bird has so many feathers that they will not molt all of their feathers in one year, but alternate the molting process in flight feathers.
Feathers are fed with a blood supply while they are growing until the growth completes. The blood supply ends, and the feather is held in place by the follicle.
The Importance of Molting for Survival
Molting is more than just a cosmetic change—it’s a matter of survival. For birds of prey like great horned owls, feathers are their lifeline, enabling them to hunt, fly, and regulate their body temperature. Without strong, healthy feathers, an owl’s ability to thrive in the wild is greatly diminished. You will often see hawks flying with raggedy feathers that have been snipped at by ravens. To many clipped ends can make it hard to maintain soaring flight.
Some birds come into wildlife rehabilitation centers with severely damaged feathers due to fire, electrocution, and glue traps. These feathers have to either be replaced by a technical process known as imping and the bird monitored to build strength and for the imping to hold true until the next molt.
Want to Learn More?
Curious about the behavior of owls? You can come meet our team of ambassadors at our upcoming Owl Prowl Experience, Owl Prowl and Falcon Free Flight, Owl Handling and Macaw Free Flight Experience.