Pale crag martin to do so, it would cast doubts on their specific distinctness. There are several subspecies differing in plumage shade or size, although the differences are clinal, and races interbreed where their ranges meet. The pale crag martin of the nominate subspecies "P. o. obsoleta" is 12–13 cm (4.7–5.1 in) long with light brown upperparts, becoming paler on the lower back, and a short square tail that has small white patches near the tips of all but the central and outermost pairs of feathers. It has a pale grey throat, upper breast and underwing coverts, and the rest of the underparts
Isabelline (colour) form of leucism caused by a uniform reduction in the production and expression of melanin resulting in areas of plumage on the back of the bird, normally black, being strongly faded, or isabelline, in appearance. Isabellinism has been reported in several species of penguin. Isabelline and isabella are terms applied in Europe to very pale palomino or cremello horses, animals with a coat colour that is variously described as cream, pale gold or almost white; this is the primary usage of the French ("isabelle") and German ("Isabella") versions of the word. In horses, this colour is created by the action