90 U.S. NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 237 part i 



A partial post-ju venal molt, usually commencing in August, involves 

 body feathers, wing coverts, sometimes the tail, and sometimes five 

 or six outer primaries. The resulting first winter plumage resembles 

 the Juvenal plumage except that the bird is not so brown above and 

 the strealving of the underparts is less distinct. Generally brownish 

 in this plumage, the lesser wing coverts, upper tail coverts, rump, and 

 rectrices are often faintly washed with a bluish tinge. Dwight 

 examined a few specimens taken as late as October 2 in which a post- 

 juvenal molt of remiges and rectrices was not yet completed. He 

 ascribes the occasional post-ju venal renewal of tail and primaries to 

 "individual precocity of southern-bred birds." 



The first nuptial plumage, acquired by a partial prenuptial molt in 

 February and March, involves some body feathers, the tail, five or 

 six outer primaries (sometimes all of them, but usually not their 

 coverts), most secondary coverts, tertiaries, and a variable number of 

 secondaries. Thus, some individuals may undergo a complete pre- 

 nuptial molt at this age. "This moult produces a variety of birds, 

 all with hrovm 'primary coverts, some specimens being as bright blue as 

 are adults. * * * a. mixture of blue and brown results. The most 

 surprising renewal is that of the distal primaries without their primary 

 coverts. * * * a new black tail edged with blue is assumed unless it 

 has already been acquired at the post-ju venal moult. * * * The 

 bill becomes slaty. * * * It is natural to assume that birds which 

 acquired new wings and tail in the autumn are the worn duller speci- 

 mens we find in May, while the brighter less worn birds are those 

 which have acquired these feathers at a more recent date." In this 

 first nuptial plumage one can usually also see varying amounts of 

 white on the abdomen. Birds in this plumage are known to establish 

 territories and probably breed. 



The adult winter plumage is acquired by a complete postnuptial 

 molt occurring in August or even September. It is "strikingly 

 different from first winter dress in the depth and richness of the 

 brown and the marked blueness of the wings and tail. * * * The 

 wings and tail are black, edged with blue, * * * the primary coverts 

 are black, edged with blue which is apparently pale in the less pre- 

 cocious birds and deeper in those more vigorous." 



The adult nuptial plumage is usually acquired by an incomplete 

 molt in the spring, but there is evidence from captive birds that this 

 molt is sometimes a complete one (Johnston, MS.). In any event, 

 most of the body feathers, some wing coverts, and tertiaries are 

 replaced. "The blue of the head is always deeper than elsewhere, 

 and the feathers of the lores and interramal space are black." Chap- 

 man (1911) states unequivocally that the rectrices are not included 



