Data and code from: Delayed post-juvenile moult in malaria-infected Eurasian blackcaps

Parasites have their strongest impact on fitness when host defences deplete resources needed for other critical life-history stages, such as development, breeding or migration. Among birds, one greatly neglected stage that could be altered by parasites is post-juvenile moult (PJM), through which yearling juvenile birds replace their fast-generated, low-quality juvenile feathers with adult-like feathers after leaving the nest. The earlier the birds complete PJM, the earlier they will be prepared to withstand forthcoming challenges, such as adverse winter conditions or migration. We used data from 435 juvenile Eurasian blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) sampled during three years in 26 localities spanning the wide range of environmental conditions across Iberian Spain to test whether haemosporidian infections (presence and abundance in blood of parasites of the genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon) were related to the progress of PJM. Controlling for body condition, sex, year an..., The methods are detailed in the associated article., , # Data and code for: Delayed post-juvenile moult in malaria-infected Eurasian blackcaps

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x0k6djhvw](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x0k6djhvw)

## Description of the data and file structure

Files contains all the data and code necessary to reproduce the results of the paper \"Delayed post-juvenile moult in malaria-infected Eurasian blackcaps\". The data were collected to test the relationship between haemosporidian infections and the progress of post-juvenile moult in Iberian blackcaps *Sylvia atricapilla*. The datasets uploaded in [Dryad](https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x0k6djhvw) includes field data of blackcaps (progress of post-juvenile moult, morphology, body condition, date and locality of capture, etc.) and laboratory data of parasite infections (results of PCR for detection of the genera *Plasmodium*, *Haemoproteus* and *Leucocytozoon* and microscopy data of intensity of infection of these parasites in the blood of birds). Files uploaded in Zenodo in...