seasonal plumage that occurs in certain birds after the breeding plumage and before the winter plumage: characterized by dull coloration
eclipse plumage in American English
noun
Ornithology
the dull plumage developed in some brightly colored birds after the breeding season
Word origin
[1905–10]This word is first recorded in the period 1905–10. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: cadre, persona, scrounge, stabilizer, white list
Examples of 'eclipse plumage' in a sentence
eclipse plumage
They have gone into what is called, rather dramatically, their 'eclipse' plumage.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They were on a lake crowded with mallards and other ducks in eclipse plumage.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
However, many of them are just coming out of their late-summer 'eclipse' plumage, when they are brown like the females and are still very patchy-looking.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The drakes are already changing into the 'eclipse' plumage that they have when they are moulting and cannot fly.