molting
Losing old plumage
Molting is the process by which animals shed outer coverings—feathers, fur, skin, or exoskeleton—to allow for new growth.
Birds molt feathers seasonally, snakes shed skin as they grow, and crustaceans discard shells that have become too small.
The British spelling is moulting.
The parrot is molting and looks a bit ragged.
Losing outer covering
- peelingComing off in strips
- flakingShedding in layers
- scalingClimbing or resizing
- decorticatingRemoving outer covering
abscission · renewal · regrowth · replacement · periodic
External skeletal structure
- instarArthropod developmental stage
- larvaImmature feeding stage
- pupaInsect's resting stage
- chrysalisPupal casing for metamorphosis
nymph · imago · caterpillar · cocoon · pupation · chitin · cuticle · carapace
Plates or weighing devices
- skinBody's outer layer
- sheddingLosing outer covering
- snakeskinSerpent's shed epidermis
- spectacleVisually striking event
humidity · lizard · gecko · snake · skink · iguana · python · boa
Bird's complete feather coat
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- downToward lower ground
- pinfeathersDeveloping feathers still sheathed
- quillsHollow defensive animal spikes
eclipse · contour · baldness · patchy · ragged · ornithology · avian · fledging
Progress toward maturity
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- expansionIncrease in scope
- enlargementIncrease in size
- stagesDistinct periods or platforms
progression · regeneration · replacement · renewal · juvenile · adult · transition · aging
shedding
Losing outer covering
decorticating · abscission · renewal · regrowth · replacement · periodic
exoskeleton
External skeletal structure
chrysalis · nymph · imago · caterpillar · cocoon · pupation · chitin · cuticle · carapace · entomology
scales
Plates or weighing devices
spectacle · humidity · lizard · gecko · snake · skink · iguana · python · boa · keratin
plumage
Bird's complete feather coat
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- downToward lower ground
- pinfeathersDeveloping feathers still sheathed
quills · eclipse · contour · baldness · patchy · ragged · ornithology · avian · fledging · definitive
development
Progress toward maturity
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- expansionIncrease in scope
- enlargementIncrease in size
stages · progression · regeneration · replacement · renewal · juvenile · adult · transition · aging · lifecycle
annual
Occurring every year
migration · breeding · nesting · timing · photoperiod · hormonal · instinct · synchronous · winter · summer
- larvaelarvae, larva, caterpillar, caterpillars, maggot
- entomologyentomology, butterfly net, insect net, insect behavior, insect identification
- arthropod anatomyexoskeleton, carapace, abdomen, thorax, antennae
- crustacean developmentlarva, juvenile, metamorphosis, egg, larval stages
- exoskeletonexoskeleton, chitin, cuticle, integument, procuticle
- mayfliesmayfly, mayflies, ephemera, imago, nymph
moltinggrowing
Increasing or enlarging
regenerating · sprouting · developing · forming · generating
moltingmaturing
Developing toward completion
filling out · thickening · fledging · hardening · calcifying
moltingretaining
Holding onto still
keeping · holding · maintaining · preserving · accumulating