160 DWIGHT 



Agelaius phoeniceus (Linn.). RED-^YINGED Blackbird 



1. Natal Down. Pale mouse-gray. 



2. Juvenal Plumage acquired by a complete postnatal moult. 



Above, including sides of head, wings, tail, and lesser coverts (z. e., the so-called 

 "shoulders") dull brownish black (no red at this stage), the feathers edged 

 with buff, palest and narrowest on primaries, rectrices, head and rump, and 

 richest on scapularies and secondaries. Below pinkish buff, ochraceous on the 

 chin, thickly streaked (except on the chin) with brownish black. Obscure 

 superciliary line ochraceous-buff. Bill and feet olive-brown, black when 

 older. 



3. First Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 juvenal moult beginning towards the end of August. Resem- 

 bles previous dress, the general effect being that of a brown 

 streaked bird the black being heavily veiled by brown feather 

 tips and mottled orange ''shoulders" are acquired. 



Entire plumage, including wings and tail, greenish black much veiled with bufify and 

 ferruginous edgings, palest below and faint or absent on primaries and rectrices. 

 Lesser wing coverts (" shoulders " ) dull orpiment- orange each feather with 

 subterminal bars or spots of black. INIedian coverts rich ochraceous buff usu- 

 ally mottled with black subterminal areas chiefly on the inner webs, the shafts 

 usually black. 



4. First Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear which is con- 

 siderable birds becoming a dull brownish black by loss of the 

 feather edgings and by fading. The mottled *' shoulder patches " 

 are characteristic of young birds, the amount of orange varying 

 greatly. The wings and tail show marked wear. 



5. Adult Winter Plumage acquired by a complete post- 

 nuptial moult beginning in mid-August, young and old becom- 

 ing practically indistinguishable. 



Lustrous greenish black, feathers of head and back, greater wing coverts and ter- 

 tiaries edged more or less (according to the individual) with buff and ferrugin- 

 ous brown. Below, the edgings are paler or absent. The bright scarlet-ver- 

 milion ''shoulders" are acquired together with the rich ochraceous buff 

 median coverts. 



6. Adult Nuptial Plumage acquired by wear which pro- 

 duces less marked effects than in the young birds. The ex- 

 posed edges of the buff median coverts fade to a dull white. The 

 more resistant nature of adult feathers is strikingly shown by 



