Humphrey–Parkes terminology

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/humphreyparkes-terminology

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the core purpose?To standardize and clarify the nomenclature for avian plumage and molt cycles
2. What is the distinguishing plumage types?Basic plumage (main/non-breeding), alternate plumage (breeding/display), and supplemental plumage (rare third type)
3. What are basic and alternate plumage?Basic plumage is the main set of feathers a bird keeps most of the year, usually the non-breeding look. Alternate plumage is a brighter set of feathers that birds grow before they start breeding.
4. What is supplemental plumage and which birds have it?Supplemental plumage is a third special set of feathers that some birds, like ptarmigans, grow. It helps them adapt to special seasons or conditions.

Plumage: The complete set of feathers covering a bird, including their color, pattern, and arrangement.
Molt: The physiological process of shedding and replacing feathers, crucial for maintaining flight and insulation.
Ornithology: The branch of zoology dedicated to the scientific study of birds.