Mottled birds

[CIW]

Hi,
I am a little confused. I have seen the term black mottled used to describe black birds with white mottling all over as well as to describe black birds with white around the eyes and along the front of the neck/under the abdomen. Are these two different phenotypes of the same genotype or are they distinct entities?

 

[nicalandia]

to describe black birds with white around the eyes and along the front of the neck/under the abdomen.

I've never seen such a Bird, perhaps you are describing a mottled chick? If not please show that bird

 

[The Moonshiner]

Agree with above.
Are you seeing that on young birds? When a mottled bird first feathers in thats how they look.
Kinda two toned. Dark on top and white on bottom.
It takes a while before they get their adult pattern of black with the white tipped feathers.

 

[CIW]

Ah, thanks - now I come to think of it I think they all have been young - I didn’t realise they changed as they got older

 

[Bo Garrett]

Yep, they look like they are wearing tuxedos as juveniles and then they will molt out to almost solid black then begin to mottle with each year they get older. My mottled cochins are usually in show color at age two or three, the males tend to take longer at times.

Blessings,

Bo