Wood Ducks

Here's a Wood Duck from early August. Normally this is probably our showiest waterfowl; I suspect this one is in its eclipse plumage. Eclipse plumage is a molting phase where the duck looks drabber and less colorful, and it's pretty important. Because ducks molt their flight feathers all at once, they go through a period when they're grounded, and are unable to fly. Imagine if you're one of the most colorful birds on the pond and you suddenly can't fly - to predators, you'd be a sitting duck!

To partially compensate for their temporary lack of aerial ability, these ducks become less conspicuous by donning their eclipse plumage. (Mallards do this too, and during eclipse plumage it's very difficult to tell the male and female Mallards apart.) And then when their flight feathers grow back, they molt off these drab colors and regain their flamboyant good looks again.

August 5, 2021 at Duke Farms
Photo 148952468, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

It's also possible that this is an immature male, though they look even more like the females. I'd expect to see a little bit of a white eye ring and a less distinct white pattern on the head if this was an immature male. 

Below is what I think an immature male Wood Duck would look like. This duck has both a white eye ring and also the beginning of the white mark going up the side of its head. The former suggests it's not an eclipse male, and the latter suggests it's not a female.

August 4, 2021 at Raritan River Greenway
Photo 149027573, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)


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