Official colors of Soays of America, which are the same colors and markings described on Hirta1:
- Tan (has brown skin at nose and eyelids)
- Light wild pattern somtimes known as light mouflan
- Dark wild pattern sometimes known as dark mouflam
- Brown self colored (less common, has same underbelly as body)
- Black (self colored, also known as solid black)
- White (white markings on the face, socks and tail tip)
1 Island Survivors, The Ecology of the Soay Sheep of St Kilda, Edited
by P. A. Jewell, C. Milner and J. Morton Boyd, with a Foreword by
Sir Frank Fraser Darling. Published 1974 by The Athlone Press,
University of London
Examples of Official Colors shown below. Sunbleached tips can be misleading as to the color of the fleece at the base, try not to focus on the sunbleaching you may see.
The photos on this page are the property of the owners of the sheep shown, are used here with their permission, and may not be reproduced for any purpose other than determining colors in your own flock.
Tan Sometimes referred to as "blonde." Tan is distinctive due to the brown skin found at the nose and eyelids.
Light wild pattern, also known as "light phase," this is the typical wild pattern with a light brown colored body.
Dark wild pattern, also known as "dark phase," this is the most common color combination, with the typical wild pattern and medium or dark brown body.
Self black, absence of wild markings Black will often sunbleach to brown or rusty colored tips in summer.
Self brown, absence of wild markings is a very rare recessive
White White face, white socks, tail tip, and/or occasionally markings on the body. Visit The White Flock in Wales for color photos of white Soay Sheep!
NOTES: Rams may have white kempy fibers along their saddle, and the majority of rams have a dark mane. This does not alter their basic color description.
White hairs on the muzzle on an older sheep should not be confused with white face or white markings, it may be a sign of aging. Photo example here.
Lamb coloration is often not indicative of adult coloration. Lambs born with gray coloration or dark gray or black legs mature to become the typical dark mouflon/wild color and pattern. Visit our Color Genetics page for more information.
