__________plumage refers to the plumage of very young birds that are only a few days or weeks old.

The correct answer is: Natal

• Natal refers to birth and new borns
• Natal plumage is the plumage covering the newly hatched birds or of those which are few days old
• Precocial birds are covered with natal plumage during birth
• Altricial birds develop natal plumage few days after birth
• The plumage is simple and plain meant for regulating temperature and protect from predators