what is a molt

Molting, also spelled moulting, is a process by which an animal sheds or casts off parts of its body to serve some beneficial purpose, either at specific times of the year or at specific points in its life cycle. The term molt is used to describe this process in birds, insects, reptiles, and other animals. During molting, animals shed hair, feathers, skin, or an outer layer periodically, which will be replaced by a new growth. In birds, molting is the periodic replacement of feathers by shedding old feathers while producing new ones. Adult birds molt at least once a year, although many molt twice and a few three times each year. The process of molting is generally slow, as birds rarely shed all their feathers at any one time; the bird must retain sufficient feathers to regulate its body temperature and repel moisture. The process of molting can be studied through field photography, and understanding the process can be useful in understanding breeding, migration, and foraging strategies.