A genetic or seasonal variation in the colour of the skin, pelt, or feathers of an animal.
（动物）皮毛颜色的变异
a rare smoky-blue colour phase of the black bear
Example sentencesExamples
Rough-legged Hawks are variable in plumage, with light and dark color phases and variations in between.
The third color phase occurs during the first pelage of young wolves.
Now that we know that such bears can be found, it means we are probably looking at a new color phase or subspecies, which is important to document - or possibly a new species of bear, which would be a major biological discovery.
The Ferruginous Hawk has a light and a dark color phase.
But whether we can report a new color phase or an entirely new species, it is an important step in cataloging Cambodia's wildlife treasures at a turning point in the country's history.