152 DWIGHT 



CORVID^ 



The Crows and Jays have but one moult annually, young 

 birds assuming adult plumage except for the flight-feathers at 

 the postjuvenal moult. 



Cyanocitta cristata (Linn.). Blue Jay 



1. Natal Down. Pale mouse-gray. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Pileum, flax-flower blue separated from the blue-tinged white forehead and white 

 superciliar)^ line by a narrow black line. Nuchal collar continued across the 

 throat as a U-shaped band, lores and postocular streak black. Back and lesser 

 wing coverts mouse-gray, tinged with blue. Wings various shades of azure and 

 China-blue, brightest on secondaries and tertiaries which are broadly tipped 

 with white and narrowly barred with black. The greater coverts are obscurely 

 barred and are terminally white, forming a single wing band. Tail centrally, 

 China-blue, barred with black, the outer rectrices largely white. Throat white. 

 Breast and abdomen laterally smoke-gray, centrally and on crissum, yellowish 

 white. Bill brownish black. Feet raw umber-brown becoming black with age. 



3. FiR.ST Winter Plumage acquired by a partial postjuvenal 

 moult early in August which involves the body plumage, the 

 wing coverts, and apparently the tertiaries, but not the rest of 

 the wings nor the tail. Young birds become practically indis- 

 tinguishable from adults. 



Similar to the previous plumage but the blue of head, back and wing coverts now 

 distinctly barred with black and much brighter, and the crest feathers longer. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear which is 

 marked by the end of the breeding season, the blues becoming 

 grayish and the white edgings diminished. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult beginning the end of July. Not distinguishable 

 from first winter dress. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear, as in the 

 young bird. 



Female. — Plumages similar to those of the male, the colors 

 duller, with less black and barring. Both sexes have identical 

 moults. 



