Viewpoint 
The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124(2):409-419, 2012 
THE ‘FIRST BASIC PROBLEM’ REVISITED: A RE-EVALUATION OF 
HOWELL ET AL. (2003) 
GERARD L. HAWKINS' 
ABSTRACT—Howell et al. (2003) proposed modifications to the system of molt terminology lor birds developed by 
Humphrey and Parkes (1959) to address a perceived inconsistency in the Humphrey-Parkes CH-P") system that Howell et 
al. (200?) termed the -first basic problem' These modifications have been adopted by mainstream ornithological literature, 
hut arc premature and unnecessary. The recharacterization of the prejuvenal and first prebasic molts, and resulting 
plumages, bv Howell el al. (2003) is: (1) not supported by scientific studies, (2) inconsistent with several factors that 
support classification of these molts and plumages under the H P system, and (?) contrary to the fundamental purpose ot 
that system. Moreover, the H P system can be interpreted in a manner that resolves the 'first basic problem without 
recharacterizing the prcjuvenal and first prebasic molts and resulting plumages. The ll-P system also can be interpreted to 
Man the first molt cycle with commencement of the initial acquisition of contour feathers and provide a fixed point to start a 
nomenclature of molts and plumages. The four molt strategies identified by Howell et al. (2003) may be explained by 
variability in conventional first prebasic and first prealtcmule molts and are not dependent on adoption ol their proposed 
modifications of the H-P system. Ornithologists arc encouraged to re-examine the modifications to the H P system 
proposed by Howell et al. (2003) and to resolve existing conflicts in North American molt terminology by adopting the 
proposed interpretations of the H-P system identified in this paper. Received I September 2D! I. Accepted h January 2012. 
Conventional North American molt terminolo¬ 
gy for birds was developed by Humphrey and 
Parkes (1959) to facilitate identification of 
homologies among molts and plumages across 
species through use of the neutral terms ‘basic’, 
'alternate', and 'supplemental' rather than terms 
that refer to breeding status, plumage, or season ol 
the year. Humphrey and Parkes (1959:3) defined 
'cycle' as the period that "runs from a given 
plumage or molt to I he next occurrence of the 
same plumage or moll". Under the Humphrey- 
Parkes CH-P’) system adults undergo a regular, 
typically complete or nearly-complete definitive 
prebasic (‘adult post-breeding’ using traditional 
European terminology) molt that includes the 
remiges and rectrices and produces a basic 
plumage each molt cycle, which is an annual 
cycle in most bird species but is shorter or longer 
in some species or individuals (Humphrey and 
Parkes 1959, Ashmolc 1963, ienni and Winkler 
1994. Pyle 2008). Adults of many species also 
undergo a typically partial definitive prealtemate 
(‘adult pre-breeding’ using traditional European 
terminology) molt between prebasic molts that 
produces an alternate plumage (Humphrey and 
Parkes 1959). Typically, young undergo a partial 
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molt soon after the prcjuvenal molt, or first 
prebasic ('post-juvenal') molt and. if applicable, a 
first prealtemate (‘first pre-breeding’) molt that 
produces first basic and first alternate plumages, 
respectively (Humphrey and Parkes 1959). Young 
also may undergo a presupplcmental molt in the 
first molt cycle that may or may not have a 
counterpart in the definitive basic molt cycle (i.e., 
the period between regular, typically complete or 
nearly-complete prebasic molts), which 1 refer to 
as a ‘molt cycle’ (Thompson and Leu 1994, Pyle 
1997). The H-P system was quickly adopted by 
most North American ornithologists (Palmer 
1962, Willoughby 2004), and their described 
sequence and extent of molts and plumages have 
been accepted throughout the world with different 
terminologies (Dement’ev and Gladkov 1967, 
Cramp 1977). 
Howell et al. (2003 ) proposed modifications to 
the H-P system to address a perceived inconsis¬ 
tency, which they termed the 'first basic problem . 
This inconsistency arises because some species or 
individuals have a first prebasic molt under the 
H-P system (‘conventional first prebasic molt') 
while others do not (Howell et al. 2003). Species 
or individuals that have a conventional first 
prebasic molt subsequently acquire a second basic 
plumage via a complete or nearly-complete 
second prebasic molt. However, species or 
individuals that lack a conventional first prebasic 
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