EASTERN EVENING GROSBEAK 219 



Lesser coverts, black with olivaceous edgings. Underwing coverts, 

 lemon yellow. 



I described a 2-month-old male as foUows: Crown and cheek, 

 "light olive brown," Supra-auricular region, "light olive-brown" 

 with dusky line, Auriculars, "light brownish olive"; greenish on 

 outer webs. Upper mandible, "drab," greenish at gape. Throat, 

 "sulphur yellow." Malar stripes, dusky. Side neck, "cinnamon- 

 buff," Back, "Saccardo's olive," Tail, black. Undertail coverts 

 whitish, tinged with "cinnamon-bufF," Wing, black; inner sec- 

 ondaries and their greater coverts, white, tinged with pale yellow 

 and edged with pale buff. Feet, "army brown." At 3 months, the 

 yellow frontal band of this juvenile male became conspicuous. As 

 the patchwork of black and fawn spread over its crown, the cheeks 

 were darkening, though not yet of the "bister" color of the adult. 



Mrs. Downs, who has banded so many juvenals in Vermont, writes 

 me that ' 'there is considerable difference in the color of juvenal females 

 and juvenal males — body color that is. Both are tan but the females 

 are a gray- tan and males a yellow-tan. Even without seeing their 

 wing markings we can tell a female from a male by the color of their 

 bodies." (For further descriptions of the young, see Shaub and 

 Shaub, 1953.). 



The fu"st winter plumage is acquired by a partial postjuvenal molt in 

 the autumn. Of this E, H. Forbush (1929) writes: "the first winter 

 plumage by partial postjuvenal molt of body feathers and wing- 

 coverts, juvenal flight-feathers and tail retained, tertials may be 

 shed in some cases." J. Dwight (1900) states that "Young may be 

 distinguished usually by the dusky inner margins of the tertiaries 

 but dift'er very little from adults." 



Of the first nuptial plumage J, Dwight (1900) wiites that it is 

 "acquired by wear which removes much of the wing edgings. Browner 

 more worn remiges and especially primary coverts with distinct 

 edgings distinguish young birds," According to M, J. Magee (1928a) 

 some and possibly all evening gi'osbeaks have a very slight spring 

 molt. Of 93 grosbeaks he examined between April 15 and May 13, 

 24 showed signs of molt. These included both adults and young. 

 The molt was most pronounced on the nape, and one to several new 

 feathers were seen on crown, occiput, cervix, side of neck, and throat. 

 We noted a male in partial prenuptial molt at North Bay, Ontario, 

 as early as Mar. 4, 1944. In 1929, M, J, Magee (1930) continued 

 his study of the spring molt. On the 50 grosbeaks he banded from 

 April 13 to May 17, he noted signs of molt on 31. The molt was 

 largely confined to the front of the head, including the chin and the 

 neck. 



