As Willow Ptarmigan consistently move to their respective wintering habitats, the sexual molt differences explored by Pyle (2007) can begin to evolve with the ptarmigan population. This could possibly lead to more stark differences between the sexes as time progresses. Paralleling these occurrences with what is being observed in Greater Sage-Grouse and other birds can provide some insight to the evolutionary dynamics of birds and their molt sequences, and possibly suggest some phylogenetic connections that otherwise were not being considered. The intricate specialization of feathers among different bird species has allowed the Aves to proliferate in almost every habitat. The molting sequence of Willow Ptarmigan is one example out of many that highlight the variety of avian feathers, both in their appearance and the ways in which they equip the birds to survive. By understanding how the feathers of a given bird species are cycled through during a year of molting and the advantages to a species’ plumage specializations, researchers are enabled to better understand critical information about how the birds survive. Understanding a species’ fundamental feather characteristics makes it possible to make more accurate observations about other aspects of birds’ lives and the roles they fulfill in their habitats.
49 P HI L O M A T H E A N