Pavo, 36, Nos. 1&2, pp 27 to 32, 1998
MOULT-BREEDING OVERLAP OF THE FERAL PIGEONS COLUMBA LIVIA IN A TROPICAL URBAN POPULATION
M. I. Patel1, V. M. Trivedi2 and K. L. Mathew3
1. M. N. Collage, Visnagar, North Gujarat, India.
2. H. & H. B. Kotak Institute of Science, Rajkot -360001, Guj. India
3. Millet Research Station, Gujarat Agricultural University, Jamnagar-361006, Guj. India.
Abstract
The
... [Show full abstract] primary moult of feral pigeons in Rajkot, Gujarat started in November-December and Terminated in August. There was a broad overlap between the breeding and moulting. The moult of primaries was arrested in some birds during the nesting cycle. It is concluded that moult initiation was not controlled by reproductive hormones in any way. It is also proposed that the reproductive hormones may not be directly involved with moult interruption. The rate of moult was significantly correlated with ambient temperature.