Appearance

Although hatchling sequence, Juvenal, Definitive Basic, and Definitive Alternate plumages are well known for this species, the timing, extent, and feather replacement patterns of molts are poorly documented (Palmer 1962, McVaugh 1972).

Hatchlings

See also Breeding: young birds, above. Downy feathers cover much of body. Top of head covered with long hairlike plumes, army brown to fawn, mixed with shorter gray down on head; back has long, soft, dark gray down. Under neck, abdominal region, and femoral tract is coarse, scant, white down (McVaugh 1972).

Juvenal Plumage

Prejuvenal molt sequence poorly known. Head, neck, and body completely covered with Juvenal feathers by 30 d of age, though molt into Juvenal plumage probably continues until after fledging.

Head, neck, and lesser wing-coverts deep chestnut or bright bay; narrow white stripe down front of throat; white underparts. Mantle olive, washed with chestnut. Upper surface of wings and tail dark drab to brownish olive (Palmer 1962), or deep neutral gray (Oberholser 1974). Lower back, rump, uppertail-coverts, chin, cheeks, upper throat, posterior underparts white. Breast streaked with chestnut or gray. Tail deep neutral gray.

Basic I Plumage

Prebasic I molt occurs gradually during late fall and first winter. Extent of this molt unknown.

Dark feathers dull slaty on back and top of wings, much like Juvenal, possibly acquired through wear. Basic I plumage poorly known, especially degree of brown on neck.

Alternate I Plumage

Prealternate I molt partial; limited to head, neck, and mantle. Occurs during first spring (9–12 mo).

Head and neck becoming much as in Definitive Alternate but plumes shorter on head, neck and back, and much more chestnut on upper wings and neck.

Definitive Basic Plumage

Definitive Prebasic molt occurs Jul–Aug; extent of molt unknown, but assumed complete. Timing of plume replacement unknown. Definitive Basic Plumage worn from late summer into winter; retained in part until following late summer.

Most of head and neck, mantle, upper wing surface, and tail slaty to blackish; lesser-coverts dark neutral gray. Head plumes purplish; chin white; underside of neck white, with thin line of chestnut or rust continuing to upper breast. At dorsal base of neck, feathers becoming long, lanceolate slate and purple plumes, but shorter than in Definitive Alternate plumage. Lower back, rump, uppertail-coverts, breast, chin, and underwing-coverts white. Sexes similar.

Definitive Alternate Plumage

Definitive Prealternate molt probably occurs Feb–Mar; partial molt, primarily of breeding plumes.

Definitive Alternate plumage worn late winter to Jul/Aug. Occipital plumes white; neck- and mantle-feathers mauve to violet; remainder of feathering much as in Definitive Basic. Rufous tinge more obvious on upper scapulars and back of neck; plumes of mantle longer, more filamentous, and wood brown; plumes generally longer and more deeply colored than in Definitive Basic.

Bill And Gape

During courtship, bill-tip black, remaining two-thirds of bill turquoise cobalt; frequent rubbing of bill over oil gland makes soft-part colors more intense; turquoise cobalt less intense in females (Rodgers 1978a). During nonbreeding period, bill mottled yellow to brownish yellow, and sexes indistinguishable by plumage. Juveniles have mostly yellow bill, terminal third dull black. In hatchlings, light green.

Iris

In males, magenta during courtship; inner margin rose to scarlet in females (Oberholser 1974, Rodgers 1978a). During nonbreeding, inner margin on both sexes becoming pink; iris brown. In juveniles, iris yellowish white.

Bare Skin On Head

Bare skin on lores to eye-ring, cere, lower and upper margins of mandible. During nonbreeding season, mottled yellow to brownish yellow; during courtship, facial skin is cobalt.

Legs And Feet

During breeding, legs fleshy maroon (Rodgers 1978a), orange (Oberholser 1974), or deep pink (Hancock and Kushlan 1984); grayish yellow during nonbreeding. Greenish yellow in juveniles; light green to partly yellow in hatchlings.