Moulting

As Mauser ( " change " from the Latin mutare, " replace " ) refers to the periodic shedding and regrowth of bird feather.

Springs wear out and must be replaced at regular intervals. The plumage change is hormonally controlled, and the production of hormones in turn depends on external influences such as temperature, day length and food availability. The springs are usually gradually replaced, often after a particular system in order to obtain the ability to fly. However, a number of species is flightless during the moult, as the United plumage (often during only a few days ), completely rejected within a very short time and then completely grows back. This form of Mauser, for example, distributed across many ducks birds.

Mauser forms

A distinction is made depending on the scale between:

• Full Mauser: The small and large plumage is completely replaced, all or almost all of the springs are changed.
• Part Mauser: Only parts of the plumage replaced, often, for example, only the plumage.

Further classifications are age- or depending on the season:

• Permanent Mauser: Permanent, year-round Mauser (example: parrots).
• Youth Mauser or postjuvenile Mauser Mauser of young birds after fledging, this is usually a part of Mauser.
• Pränuptialmauser: This vorbrutzeitliche Mauser is also used in Europe for many songbirds and often takes place in the winter quarters.
• Postnuptialmauser: Mauser the adult birds after the breeding season, it is often pronounced as a full moult and used in Europe, for example in many songbirds.

In birds that have both Pränuptialmauser and a Postnuptialmauser, the males often wear the breeding season, a more striking plumage and change in the Postnuptialmauser back to unnauffälligeren simplicity dress.

The Mauser is an energetic burden for birds; they often find therefore place outside the breeding season, while there is already an increased energy demand.

Shock Mauser

As shock Mauser is called a spring release, which is triggered by stress. Probably by the region's stress hormones on the Mauser. The shock Mauser probably arises from a protective reflex and is used to escape from an attacker who retains only remnants spring. This is also called shock Mauser. Birds lose abruptly tail feathers or plumage due to stress exposure (eg fishing ), for example, in chickens and pigeons.

Stock Mauser

The stock Mauser occurs in all songbirds. Symptoms of Stock Mauser are usually a loss of feathers on the head and neck area, as well as some not developed until the end of plumage. The general health of the birds is not affected appreciably. The causes of the Stock Mauser are very different, which can for example be inadequate supply of vitamins and minerals, abrupt and unnatural temperature variations, daylight lengths without considering the day and the seasons. Stressors by reacting the just moulting birds or severe changes in the environment. Overstocking of mass entertainment. The plumage assumes its normal shape and color mainly on until the next moult.