Evolution of the preformative molt in Cardinalidae correlates with transitions from forest to open habitats

While previous studies had highlighted the role of time and energy constraints in the evolution of the preformative molt in passerines, we conclude that adaptation to the physical environment has had a greater influence than constraints on the evolution of this molt in Cardinalidae. [...] Both rela- Molt Extent and Primary Replacement tive mass and relative exposure were computed as the sum We quantified the influence of five natural history factors of normalized values of replaced feathers for each of the on the evolution of preformative molt of Cardinalidae spe- 430 molt cards. [...] In view of the relevance tive importance of the five natural history factors on the of these results, we also reconstructed the ancestral state preformative molt extent of Cardinalidae. [...] spective of the evolution of the preformative molt in a Like delayed plumage maturation, none of the variables passerine family endemic to the American continent. [...] Our associated with constraints showed a significant influence findings indicated the existence of a strong phylogenetic on the evolution of the preformative molt in Cardinalidae signal and have pinpointed the importance of the phys- (Tables 1 and 2).