"Boy, he's really red! I don't think I've ever seen them that red before," my wife said admiringly of a male purple finch crunching sunflower seeds at the feeder. He was a nice burgundy. The male ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. GrrlScientist writes about evolution, ecology, behavior and health. Summer is a busy time for birds. The adults must help their ...

Other than covering up their naked bodies, what are a bird’s feathers for? Feathers are responsible for more than just a bird’s ability to fly, they provide weather protection. Feathers make a bird ...

Have you noticed that birds seem to keep a low profile this time of year? “I’ve had people ask me why they don’t see mockingbirds around in August,” said Sylvia Gallagher, chairwoman of bird ...

Have you noticed any fallen feathers around your backyard? Many of backyard birds are in the middle of their biggest transformation of the year, losing and replacing feathers in a process known as ...

Flying Colors is a sponsored column on the hobby of backyard bird feeding written by Michael Zuiker, owner of the Wild Birds Unlimited store at the Lee Harrison Shopping Center. Visit the store at ...

Just as people make seasonal wardrobe changes, many birds are now in the process of a transformation of their own, losing and replacing their feathers in a process known as molting. Birds spend a lot ...

"Molt," said my friend Ashley, "sounds dull." .We were talking about this column, and my effort to make bird molt interesting. "Molt doesn't sound interesting," she said. "Well, you don't know ...

You buy new clothes. Birds grow their own. The donning of fresh plumage is called molt, with new feathers replacing old. The feathers we see are dead once completely grown. They break and show wear.