moulting

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moulting The periodic, often seasonal, shedding of hair or feathers by animals. In birds, it is the process by which feathers are periodically renewed, at least once a year, sometimes twice or (rarely) three times. Feather shedding is usually a gradual process and does not affect flight or other functions but Anatidae lose their flight feathers simultaneously, becoming temporarily flightless. The usual sequence of moult begins with the loss of primaries, followed by secondaries, tail feathers, and then body feathers. See also ECDYSIS.

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