Timbrhuntr, thanks for your thoughts. I'm thinking Merriam also just a coulor phase that has occurred.
I did do some research and coulor and they can be white or buff. That is very interesting for me, because living where that is all you see is white tipped feathers. I didn't know they can be buff. Lol
Thanks
It is my understanding that buff is the more natural colouring in a true Merriam's and not white . I have shot Rio's in Texas that were almost white as opposed to the more buff type colouring you never know I guess . With Merriam's they seem to have less iridescent breast feathers more purple as opposed to the bronze colour of rio's plus the the tips on the main tail feathers are wider on the Merriam's .