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<p>Description of molt patterns of large-bodied species, such as vultures, is difficult and scarce. The black vulture (<i>Coragyps atratus</i>) is the most common and abundant Neotropical vulture, though its molt pattern is not yet fully understood. Here we describe its primary molt pattern using images of citizen science platforms taken from 2014 and 2024 in southeastern Brazil. The black vulture undergoes a complete molt per cycle, with an average duration of 15.5&#xa0;months. The molt extends throughout the year with a decline in the winter with fewer records of primary molt during this period. The apparent second molt wave starts before the replacement of external primaries is completed, a <i>Staffelmauser</i>-like pattern. By comparing molt data with average breeding records for the southern hemisphere, we verified a decrease in molt records during the peak of breeding activity in the winter. This molt pattern agrees with other Cathartidae, and might be related to seasonal changes in photoperiod, resource availability or climatic seasonality. Our study shows that citizen science data can be used as a supplementary tool to study molt patterns of large-bodied birds which spend a large amount of time flying, and which capture is logistically difficult.</p>

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Description of black vulture primary feathers molt in Brazil using citizen science images

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月20日

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  • Márcia Rodrigues Dias,
  • Miguel Ângelo Marini

摘要

Description of molt patterns of large-bodied species, such as vultures, is difficult and scarce. The black vulture (Coragyps atratus) is the most common and abundant Neotropical vulture, though its molt pattern is not yet fully understood. Here we describe its primary molt pattern using images of citizen science platforms taken from 2014 and 2024 in southeastern Brazil. The black vulture undergoes a complete molt per cycle, with an average duration of 15.5 months. The molt extends throughout the year with a decline in the winter with fewer records of primary molt during this period. The apparent second molt wave starts before the replacement of external primaries is completed, a Staffelmauser-like pattern. By comparing molt data with average breeding records for the southern hemisphere, we verified a decrease in molt records during the peak of breeding activity in the winter. This molt pattern agrees with other Cathartidae, and might be related to seasonal changes in photoperiod, resource availability or climatic seasonality. Our study shows that citizen science data can be used as a supplementary tool to study molt patterns of large-bodied birds which spend a large amount of time flying, and which capture is logistically difficult.