Mottled Plumage Color Standard

Mottled Plumage

Color of Male
HEAD: Brilliant greenish black, one feather in three ending in a small V-shaped white tip.
NECK: Hackle - brilliant greenish black, one feather in two ending in a small V-shaped white tip.  Front of Neck - same as breast.
BACK: Brilliant greenish black, one feather in four ending in a V-shaped white tip.
SADDLE: Same as hackle.
TAIL: Main Tail - black, each feather ending in a V-shaped white tip.  Sickles, Lesser Sickles and Coverts - black, each feather ending in a V-shaped white tip.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts and Bows - brilliant greenish black, one feather in three ending in a V-shaped white tip.  Coverts - brilliant greenish black, each feather ending in a V-shaped white tip, the whole forming two distinct bars across wing.  Primaries - black, ending with white tips.  Secondaries - lustrous black, ending with white tips.
BREAST: Brilliant greenish black, one feather in two ending in a V-shaped white tip.
BODY & STERN: Body - same as breast.  Stern - fluff, black tinged with white.
LOWER THIGHS: Same as breast.
UNDERCOLOR: Slaty black.

Color of Female
HEAD: Black, one feather in three ending in a V-shaped white tip.
NECK: Hackle - black, one feather in two ending in a small V-shaped white tip.  Front of Neck - same as breast.
BACK & CUSHION: Black, one feather in two ending in a V-shaped white tip.
TAIL: Main Tail - black, each feather ending in a V-shaped white tip.  Coverts - black, one feather in three ending in a V-shaped white tip.
WINGS: Shoulders, Fronts & Bows - same as back.  Coverts - black, one feather in three ending in a V-shaped white tip, forming an irregular pair of bars across wing.  Primaries & Secondaries - black, ending with white tips.
BREAST: Black, one feather in two ending in a V-shaped white tip.
BODY & STERN: Body - same as breast.  Stern - fluff black, tinged with white.
LOWER THIGHS: Same as breast.
UNDERCOLOR: Slaty black.

Judging Instructions
Black plumage should predominate over all sections of the plumage.  The ideal white tip should be from one quarter to three eighths of an inch long on the back, body, and thighs.  This white should be pure within itself and free from traces of gray or black, the whiter and sharper the better.  An even sized tip in all sections of the plumage is the ideal.

Defects
Purple barring in black sections of the plumage - Large white mottling, giving bird an overall too white appearance - Lack of mottling on back, breast and lower body - Solid white feathers in plumage.