Sharron,

You are entering a part of birding terminology that can be a little murky.
Basically, "alternate" plumage is the same as "breeding" plumage. You might
see "definitive alternate plumage" used occasionally. That means that it is
really, really alternate plumage. Or it might just mean that it is
definately alternate plumage.

Alternately, "basic" plumage and "non-breeding" or "winter" plumage are the
same. You will occasionally see descriptions of a bird's plumage as
percentages of how basic it is as it is molting from alternate to basic
plumage. If it is described as basically basic, you can be assured that it
is pretty basic. Basically, those are the main differences. Many people
are quite satisfied just identifying the bird without confusing the issue.

"Eclipse" is the way waterfowl get when they are neither in basic nor
alternate plumage. It is the in-between plumage. Sort of like when someone
asks you if you are dressed when you are about halfway dressed. You can say
you are in the eclipse stage of dress. You are neither naked nor dressed,
you are in eclipse. Actually, waterfowl molt shortly after the breeding
season into the eclipse plumage and molt again into their normal plumage.
The eclipse stage is kind of boring because all ducks look about the same
during eclipse. I usually skip this stage by looking at shorebirds during
this time.

I hope this answers some of your questions.

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA


At 08:05 AM 9/23/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Tweeters,
>
>Could someone enlighten me please ... "eclipse", "alternate", and "winter"
>plumage. Are they different words for the same thing, or ...?
>
>Thank you.
>
>Sharron Huffman "We are confronted with
>Herring Cove Originals insurmountable opportunities."
>Ketchikan, Alaska -Pogo
>
>
>
>
>

osprey at nwinfo dot net