juvenal plumage

[ joo-vuh-nl ]

noun

, Ornithology.

1. the first plumage of birds, composed of contour feathers, which in certain species follows the naked nestling stage and in other species follows the molt of natal down.

Word History and Origins

Origin of juvenal plumage¹

< Latin juvenālis youthful, equivalent to juven ( is ) young man or woman + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

In juvenal plumage both species are entirely buff below, the feathers more or less tipped with dusky.

From Project Gutenberg

The juvenal plumage appears first on the scapulars, back and breast; and the tail is the last to appear.

From Project Gutenberg

I have seen no specimens showing the progress of development of the juvenal plumage.

From Project Gutenberg

The juvenal plumage appears first on the back and scapulars, then on the breast and wing coverts.

From Project Gutenberg

The Pribilof sandpiper is much paler in the juvenal plumage and grayer in the winter plumage than the Aleutian.

From Project Gutenberg