Post-juvenile moult in relation to dispersal and migration in the chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita

Abstract

Examination of juvenile chiffchaffs in Cleveland, NE England showed all birds renewed body, head and tail covert feathers during post-juvenile moult. Replacment of inner greater coverts, tertials and central tail feathers occurred in the majority of birds. Start of moult occurred at arouind 53 days of age and finished c45 days later. Premigratory dispersal took place before or in the early stages of moult and during mid-moult birds remained sedentary with migration occurring as birds finished moult. -from Author