Plumage in Lal Munia (Amandava amandava)

An Indian ploceid finch, Amandava amandava, develops brilliant nuptial plumage in males during the breeding season. The females and males outside of the breeding season have modest brown hen plumages. The fact that castrates, whether originally of male or of female sex, assume nuptial plumages during the breeding season of the species indicates that plumage character is under the control of hypophyseal hormones and that hypophyses are passing through an activity cycle which is independent of presence or absence of gonads.