While the small size suggests a young of the year that would likely be too early to molt into breeding plumage. I think it more likely that it was a late duckling from last year who is slow to acquire breeding plumage. At=;alternatively, could just be a small mature male heading into eclipse ahead of the rest.
Hal Michael
Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (
http://ecowb.org/)
Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
ucd880 at comcast.net
>
On 06/01/2022 10:27 AM John Riegsecker <jriegsecker at pobox.com> wrote:
>
>
>
Last week I photographed an unusual Wood Duck drake at Fort Steilacoom
>
Park. It is small compared to the other males it was with, and its
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plumage is all messed up, looking something like eclipse plumage. I've
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asked several people and did some Google research, but haven't found
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much. Any suggestions on what is going on? The eBird list with photos
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is here:
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>
https://ebird.org/pnw/checklist/S111141324
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>
John Riegsecker
>
Gig Harbor, WA
>
>
--
>
John Riegsecker
>
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