A coworker who hunts teal in the fall (early September) recently commented that he has only shot hens, never drakes. In reality, in early September, males and females don similar female-like plumage, known as eclipse plumage. Now that October has arrived, many dabblers are molting into their sharp breeding plumage, in order to attract mates successfully this winter. If you get a chance, check out your local mallard flock in the next few days. Drake mallards are currently in mid-molt and illustrate how much variation there can be in plumage within a species during periods of active molt.
Nick Komar Fort Collins CO --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Colorado Field Ornithologists: http://www.cfo-link.org/ Colorado County Birding: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.as/group/cobirds?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
