148 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 



2 Color and age 



When the parents are alike, the young usually resemble them, 

 even though they may be bright colored. Young red-headed 

 woodpeckers are an exception to the rule because if the coloration 

 of the parents is a departure from that of the family, the young 

 usually resemble the family type. When the parents are different, 

 the young resemble the female. 



a Parents alike, young similar 



Song sparrow and young Nu SpRS 



Kingfisher, immature Nu KiB6 



Kingfisher, adult Nu KiB7 



b Parents alike, young different 



Adults have departed from coloration typical of family 



Chipping sparrow and young Nu SpC4 



Red-headed woodpeckers, young Nu WpS4 



Red-headed woodpecker, aduh Nu WpS 



c Parents different, young like female 



Red-winged blackbirds, young Nu B14 



Red-winged blackbird, male Nu Bl 



Red-winged blackbird, female Nu Bll 



3 Color and season 



When there is a difference in coloration between the male and 

 female, after the breeding season the male usually assumes the 

 coloration similar to that of the female. This has to be changed 

 again during the winter or spring to bring him once more into 

 his breeding plumage. 



a Change in color of adults in spring and fall 



(1) By molting 



Pintail, male, spring 



Pintail, male, early fall (eclipse plumage) 

 Wild mallard, early fall (eclipse plumage) 

 Wild mallard, male, late fall (spring 



plumage) Nu Mcl4 



(2) By feather wear 



In a few cases the conspicuous marks of the breeding plumage 

 are borne by the male during the winter, veiled by gray or brown 

 edging to the feathers. The bright marks of the breeding plu- 



