Using my whole Pheasant pelt, I am tying some Brimintors.

My question is in the color of the Pheasant, the recipe and photos seem to indicate that the "fluff" used for the tail will be a dark brown...all my fluff is grey.

Is the coloration just a variable or is the hen always brown in the downy feather area?

I am still going to fish them but just courious and noticed they do call for a hen feather and I don't know enough about pheasants to determine if it as a male or female pelt.