Complete post-juvenile moult of the Asian Stubtail <i>Urosphena squameiceps</i>
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- KAWAJI Noritomo
- Wildlife Management Lab., Forestry and Frest Products Research Institute
Bibliographic Information
- Other Title
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- ヤブサメにおけるComplete post-juvenile moultについて
- ヤブサメ ニ オケル Complete post juvenile moult ニ ツイテ
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Description
Research was implemented on the Asian Stubtail (Urosphena squameiceps) that breed in lowl and forests of western Hokkaido. The juveniles were observed to moult into winter plumage about 20 days after fledging. The juvenile feathers, especially flight feathers, were shorter and weaker than those of adult feathers. The first winter plumage, however, was almost exactly the same as the adult plumage. This type of complete post-juvenile moult is usually seen in sedentary species, but the Asian Stubtail is a migrant that spends summers in Japan. One explanation for the complete post-juvenile moult is related to this species’ preferred summer habitat. The Asian Stubtail spends most of the summer months flitting about in dense undergrowth. The short juvenile feathers might be sufficient or even preferable for this sort of lifestyle. Later, however, longer, stronger flight feathers are required for the migration to the south.
Journal
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- The Bulletin of the Japanese Bird Banding Association
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The Bulletin of the Japanese Bird Banding Association 13 (1), 1-7, 1998
The Japanese Bird Banding Association
