nuptial plumage

noun

Ornithology.

1. the plumage assumed by a male bird during the courtship period, especially in those species that are more colorful at this period.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuptial plumage¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Frightful was in her nuptial plumage.

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He has not yet, moreover, attained the fullest beauty of his nuptial plumage.

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In some analogous cases, namely with birds having a distinct summer and winter plumage, but with the two sexes nearly alike, certain closely-allied species can easily be distinguished in their summer or nuptial plumage, yet are undistinguishable in their winter as well as in their immature plumage.

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Discussion why the males alone of some species, and both sexes of other species, are brightly coloured—On sexually-limited inheritance, as applied to various structures and to brightly-coloured plumage—Nidification in relation to colour—Loss of nuptial plumage during the winter.

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At this spring moult a special “nuptial” plumage is often assumed, as for example in many of the Limicolae, e.g. god-wits, knots, dunlin, ruff.

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