Chocolate Color Standard

Color of Male
MALE PLUMAGE: All males plumage including hackle, back, shoulders, wing fronts,bows, coverts, saddle, main and lesser sickles are a dark chocolate with a neutral sheen.  Front of neck, breast, body, thighs, fluff, main tail feathers, primary, secondary and wing bar a muted shade of milk chocolate.  When viewed from the front there should be a definite contrast in shadow between the darker hackle feathers and those of the breast.  Under color in all sections a grayish - brown, lighter than the exposed portion of feathers.

Color of Female
FEMALE PLUMAGE: A muted shade of milk chocolate throughout with an inherent slight tendency toward lacing in the wing coverts and back feathers.  Must be light enough in shade not to be mistaken for poor colored black.  Under color in all sections is a grayish brown, slightly lighter than exposed portion of feathers.  A slight neutral sheen on hackle.

Defects
Color in either sex so dark as to approach black.  Breast color in males so light as to approach tan.  Blotching (light and dark feathers mixed) in either sex