prealternate molt

[pree-awl-ter-nit]

noun Ornithology.

the molt by which many birds replace only some and rarely all of the feathers assumed at the prebasic molt, usually occurring prior to breeding.

Origin of prealternate molt

pre- + alternate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018