PASSERINE BIRDS OF NEW YORK 313 



Merula migratoria (Linn.). American Robin 



1. Natal Down. Mouse-gray. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Pileum clove-brown with faint whitish shaft streaks ; back, lesser and median wing 

 coverts mouse-gray, each feather with elliptical shaft streaks of pale wood- 

 brown, edged with dull black ; rump paler with dusky barring. Wings and 

 tail (except as described) clove brown with whitish edgings, the two outer 

 pairs of rectrices terminally blotched with dull white, the others sometimes 

 tipped. Below, tawny ochraceous, lighter or darker according to individual, 

 sometimes ochraceous rufous, the chin, mid-abdomen and crissum white, the 

 sides of the chin streaked, the throat, breast and abdomen heavily spotted with 

 black, becoming edging or barring posteriorly ; under tail coverts white, basally 

 dusky. Auriculars and lores black, obscure superciliary line ochraceous buff, 

 orbital ring paler. Bill and feet dull pinkish buff, becoming dusky. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a partial postjuvenal 

 moult, beginning late in August and extending through Sep- 

 tember and part of October, which involves the body plumage, 

 wing coverts and tertiaries, but not the rest of the wings nor 

 the tail. 



Similar to previous plumage, but without spots above and below. Above, including 

 wing coverts, pale grayish olive-brown, veiling dull black on the pileum ; the 

 throat, abdomen and sides tawny or pale ochraceous rufous, much veiled by 

 broad white edgings, grayish on the throat ; the chin and fore-throat white, 

 streaked with dull black, malar stripe and forehead tinged with ochraceous ; 

 lores and auriculars dull black ; superciliary line and orbital ring white. Pos- 

 terior abdomen, crissum and tibiae white, the tail coverts slaty basally. Wing 

 coverts grayish olive-brown, brownish edged and palest terminally. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by w^ear through which 

 much of the white edging below is lost so that birds become 

 redder, without veiling, the concealed black of the pileum is 

 brought out and the streaking on the chin becomes clear black 

 and white. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult in August and September. Usually distinguish- 

 able from first winter dress by being grayer above, the head 

 blacker and less veiled ; below the ochraceous rufous is richer, 

 less veiled and even invading the chin the streaks of which are 

 broader ; the lores and auriculars are blacker than in the young 

 bird and the spots tipping the lateral rectrices are whiter and 

 lareer. 



