fulvous

Fulvous is a color term used in English to describe a dull yellowish-brown to tawny orange hue. It is often applied to describe the coloration of fur, plumage, or other surfaces where a warm, yellowish-brown tone is present. The range can extend from pale yellowish-brown to deeper orange-brown, depending on lighting and context.

The word derives from Latin fulvus meaning tawny or yellowish, and it has long been part of the descriptive color vocabulary in natural history and art.

In natural history, fulvous is commonly used to describe the coloration of animals. In birds and mammals, field guides may note fulvous tones in plumage or coats. A well-known example is the fulvous whistling duck (Dendrocygna bicolor), whose name reflects its tawny coloration.

Differences from related colors: fulvous sits between yellowish and brown on the spectrum, often described as warmer and more orange than tawny, though usage varies by author and region. It should not be assumed to denote a precise standard shade, as hue names are imprecise in everyday language.

See also: ochre, tawny, brown, and yellowish-brown color nomenclature.