BRONZE

The male bronze dragons are the second largest, fastest, and strongest next to the Queens, and are typically the only ones able to catch them in a mating flight. For thousands of years the position of Weyrleader was the privilege of bronze riders, but with the coming of the new dragon colours this has changed.
Bronzes only impress male candidates.
Again because of their size and endurance the bronzes are the first picked to be Wingleaders and -seconds in a fighting pattern, and fly the middle and upper ranks. They, like all males, chew firestone.
Bronzes are smart, they have to be. They must be clever and wily to avoid Thread as well as to catch Golds in flight. A bronze's strength is in tactical thought and a certain amount of cunning.

Length 42-47 meters, nose tip to tail tip

Brown-Bronze     Bronze      Light-Bronze

BLACK

"Black" dragons can be male or female. They are equivalent and equal to the bronze, although they are slightly smaller.
The male blacks impress males only, and the female blacks impress only female candidates.
They tend to be somewhat high-strung and feisty, but have the intelligence of any bronze with an added feminine depth.
Female blacks can be flown by any colour that wants to chase them. And are not fertile (don't clutch) and so chew firestone.
Blacks are the second in row to be chosen as Wingleaders and -seconds. And sometimes even a male black rider can be Weyrleader.

Length 39-44 meters, nose tip to tail tip

Black     Blue-Black

RED

Red dragons can be impressed by either male or female candidates and are males and females themselves. The male reds impress only the male candidates and the female reds impress only female candidates. The male red dragons can fly any colour even the Gold queens. They are energetic, feisty dragons that tend to either completely love you or hate you will their innermost being. They fly with the bronzes and blacks in flight patterns and have both speed and endurance. Both the males and females are good enough that they can be Wingleaders and Wingseconds depending on their temperament.

Size 38 to 45 meters from nose tip to tail tip

Orange-Red        Red       Bright-Red     Dark-Red

 SILVER

These are female dragons and impress only female candidates.
They can be flown by any colour, but are usually mated by browns or greys. Some silver can lay very small clutches, from one to five eggs. However, if they don't chew firestone they may not be fertile. It really depends on the Weyr and the dragon. Some silvers only lay one or two and stop and still others are completely barren.
If they chew stone, they fly as Wingseconds and occasionally -leaders. If not, they join the Queens in the lower wings.
They have the wisdom, patience, and stamina that dignify browns, and they can be somewhat enigmatic and playful, too.

Length 36-41 meters, nose tip to tail tip

Silver    Smokey

Copper

Always impress Female, and can clutch up to 10 eggs. Coppers are one of the more intelligent dragons, having a better memory than most. They are sweet and spirited, but can be very tough, if aggitated. Coppers more often impress HAD's and have uncommonly strong connections with their riders, and always seem to be talking. The highest rank a copper rider can become is a Weyr Lady which has almost as many responsibilities as the weyrwoman.

33-37 meters, nose to tail tip.

                   No colour variatiion.

 BROWN

Browns are middle-ranking males of middle size, speed, dexterity, and everything else, though perhaps they are stockier than the lean bronzes. Of the males, browns have the highest endurance next to bronzes, but aren't as fast and powerful.
Stolid and reliable, browns generally have Wingsecond position in the upper and middle fighting ranks.
They only impress males.
Of the eight colours, browns are the "smart ones." Their thought, while limited to the present and immediate future, is logical, sensible, insightful, and wise. Not to say that they can't loosen up and have a good time like any of the others. If you must have a dragon in a time of crisis, choose a brown. He won't lose his head.

Length 33-38 meters long, nose tip to tail tip

Brown     Light-Brown   Dark-Brown

 PURPLE

These are female dragons and can be only impresses by females.
They can be Wingseconds in a fighting pattern, and sometimes -Leaders.
They are inquisitive and witty, sensitive, and fun. A purple loves a good laugh. On the other side of the mark is dark humour and biting sarcasm, but this is rare. For the most part, they are the beloved jesters of the Weyr.
They can be flown by any male dragon that wants to chase them, but never clutch.

Length 30-35 meters long, nose tip to tail tip

Dark-Purple    Blue-Purple    Light-Purple

 GRAY

They may fly purple, black and silvers, but usually chase the reds and greens.
In a Fighting Wing, greys help fill the ranks along with blues, greens, and reds. Sometimes a grey can be wing second.
They impress male candidates only.
Greys are smart enough in their own way. Their capacity to think ahead, however, is limited at best. They tend to be quieter, more serious and less emotion-driven than others of the "lesser" colours--the introspective dragons. They know themselves well and their riders better.

Length 27-32 meters long, nose tip to tail tip

Light-Gray    Gray    Dark-Gray

 BLUE

The blue males are the "workhorses" of the species. They are stout and hardy, having higher endurance than their smaller sisters.
Blues generally Impress males only, but have been known to choose girls sometimes.
They form the ranks of the Fighting Wings and sometimes even can be wing seconds.
Interestingly enough, the trademark blue of the Harper Craft is based on the most common shade of this reliable beast. Blues are steadfast and loyal. If you must trust a dragonpair, trust a blue first. They don't betray and will stop at nothing to do what is right.

Length 25-30 meters long, nose tip to tail tip

Dark-Blue   Royal-Blue   Slate-Blue   Light-Blue

 GREEN

The most numerous of all dragon colours, which number the same as all the other colours put together. They are the best Threadfighters as well, being extremely dexterous and manoeuvrable in the air. Unfortunately, they haven't the endurance of their larger siblings and so have to alternate with other greens. Otherwise, they make up the majority of the Wings.
They may impress female or male humans, although it's mostly females.
The greens are able to clutch, but are prevented from doing so by chewing firestone. If they were allowed to clutch, the Weyrs would be up to their eyeballs in little green females before one could blink.
They are flown by any male who cares to chase them, but generally they mate with blues, greys or browns.
Greens are unpredictable and volatile, especially when near to rising. They think with their feelings and passions, displaying a 'point A to point B' thought process. Their emotions, however, run deep. If they like someone, they REALLY like that someone. If they dislike someone, let him beware. Greens make everyone's life more interesting.

Length 22-27 meters long, from nose tip to tail tip

Dark-Green   Medium-Green Light-Green   Mint-Green