What is the purpose of molting? What is the process like? Which feathers are affected, and in what order? And where does it fit ina bird’s calendar? Through 260 photos, 30 illustrations, and 31 diagrams, answers to these questions are provided, and the phenomenon of molting is given precise explanation. Practical examples will help field ornithologists and birdwatchers develop a thorough knowledge of molt strategies and enable them to recognize a species' various plumages, as well as tell the age of individual birds observed.