"phase" or "morph"? (1 Viewer)

Samuel Perfect

Well-known member

• May 3, 2014

• #1

Is there a difference between the use of the words "phase" and "morph"? I've been asking around about this a bit but I'm still not absolutely certain if there is a rule set in stone. I've gotten as far as to believe that "phase" refers to a changing stage in plumage colour and "morph" being a permanent colour type.

Any further info would be much appreciated :t:

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• May 3, 2014

• #2

I have to say I use the change pretty much interchangeably - worse than that I tend to say pale phase Arctic Skua but dark morph Arctic Skua - for no apparent reason.

For changing state of plumage I use a descriptor of the condition - ie winter plumaged.

 

Samuel Perfect

Well-known member

• May 3, 2014

• #3

I was shown this link but I don't think it resolves much... http://www.kastehachapibird.org/birding-articles/86-phase-morph-or-color-variations-.html

I don't think phase and morph should be used interchangeably though. It seems to me that "morph" is a more appropriate word when referring to skuas and buzzards etc. as they remain dark/intermediate/pale whilst "phase" suggests a change in the colour (although I can't think any examples off the top of my head where this would be the case)

 

Richard Klim

-------------------------

• May 3, 2014

• #4

Richards 1980 (The Birdwatcher's A-Z)...

Morph
A term introduced by J. S. Huxley to replace the less precise 'phase', denoting any one of the different forms of a species population subject to polymorphism.
See Polymorphism

Phase
Equivalent of morph.
See Morph

Polymorphism
The co-existence of two or more readily distinguishable 'morphs' or phases within a single inter-breeding population in numbers too great to be merely a recurrent mutation. The plumage phases differ markedly from each other independently of sex, age, season or geographical race. ...

Click to expand...

 

Samuel Perfect

Well-known member

• May 3, 2014

• #5

Ah, seems I was quite wrong with what I just said. Thank you for the correction Richard :t:

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• May 3, 2014

• #6

Thanks for the reference, Richard. Nice to know the history. It's interesting that the two terms continue to coexist after all these years.