I have a question. I communicate frequently with a birder friend in New
Zealand. She is a good photographer and takes photos of birds to send me.
She sent me a photo of a mallard pair that looked to me in eclipse taken in
NZ late winter/early spring. When I commented on this to her she said that
she did not believe mallards in NZ altered plumage with the seasons. This
does not seem likely to me. NZ is pretty much the same temperate zone as
here only in the Southern Hemisphere. Anyone have any knowledge or opinion
on this? Thanks.

Margaret Parkinson
University District, Seattle