Bird feather moult is a regular process that takes place in birds to renew their plumage that accumulates tear and wear over time. Yet, by since feathers must be renewed from their base they are shed to make room for new feathers and this process creates feather gaps that may hamper flight aerodynamics, negatively affecting flight performance and metabolism. We are studying different aspects of bird feather moult, including the relationships between moult timing and feather quality in nest grown feathers, the effects of global warming on the extent of feather moult and how different evolutionary forces, related to bird ecology (flight habits), distribution and life-history properties (e.g., breeding latitude and migratory habits) shaped the evolution of feather moult.
