[DKeithA]

This is not about how to change the icon. I'm looking for an answer on why the Apple menu icon goes from a shade of gray right after startup and then to black once the desktop has been visible for 60 seconds or more. I'm guessing it symbolizes some sort of system process, but I can't find an answer to exactly what it means anywhere. I can only find threads and pages concerning changing the color from the default. Anyone know?

[TETENAL]

It doesn't do that for me.

A change in colour at log-in might be due to different monitor profiles in root and your account, but it that happens within the first second for me not one minute.

[Jasoco]

If it's Leopard, remember that the Apple menu logo changes based on what your Desktop Picture is set to.