Moult strategies in three species of Argentinean thrushes

Abstract

Moult strategies in thrushes are known mainly for the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Neotropics they are not well studied. We described moult strategies and its relation to reproduction and migration in three species of thrushes from northern Argentina, one of them resident (Turdus rufiventris) and two migrants (Turdus amaurochalinus and Turdus nigriceps). The three species showed a single, post-breeding annual moult, and no overlap between moult and reproduction was observed. Turdus amaurochalinus began moulting immediately after breeding and continued with moulting as it moves on migration. Moulting adult individuals of Turdus nigriceps were not present in the breeding territories, so they should be moulting in the wintering grounds. Moult in Turdus rufiventris can be spread out throughout the year. The preformative moult is incomplete in the juveniles of the three species.