 |
Psilos
Wildfowl Photography |
Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos ) |
Ok now how can I have a wildfowl gallery
without including the Mallard? Known by just about everybody and found
just about everywhere in the world they have a cheeky character all
their own. |
 |
 |
Below are three engaging males coming
towards me expecting to be fed at a local lake. We all know this familiar
scene and have no doubt seen the female keeping watch over her ducklings
in the summer, but how closely have you really looked at them and how
much about them do you really know? |
 |
The adult males in the photo
above are not showing at their best. This photo was taken in October
when they are still going through the moult. Their colour is rather
faded and this is called their eclipse plumage. During this time they
are very vulnerable as they cannot fly. As a result you will see large
flocks of mallards grouping together for safety on inland lakes. Below
is a male in full breeding plumage. The two most characteristic parts
of a male are the green head and the curly tail feathers. |
 |
The mallard is well known for breeding
with other ducks. On the plus side it has given rise to many successful
breeds of domestic duck but sadly it is also responsible for making
some species, such as the American Black duck endangered in the wild.
Sometimes though it isnt other duck species that they attempt to breed
with.....(photo below taken with canon 350d June 05) |
 |
 |
Spring jewels
Photo taken Feb 27th 2005 Martinmere
