Subject: cross-dressing Mallard
Date: Dec 9 15:20:45 2000
From: ian paulsen - ipaulsen at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us


HI ALL:
I have been observing a male Mallard here on Bainbridge Is., WA that
shows traits of female Mallards:
1) brown feathers on the flanks and back.
2)a mostly brown head with only small patches of green
3) a dull yellowish bill with black markings

At first I thought it was molting its eclipse plumage but as of today it
still has these plumage differences. Also the bill is more like a female's
that a typical male's bill. Anyone have noticed this before in Mallards?

Sincerely
Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen
Bainbridge Is., WA, USA
ipaulsen at linknet.kitsap.lib.wa.us
"Rallidae all the way"