-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
shoveler? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter paul_j_c2000
- Start date
Yes I think that's a drake in eclipse. Definitely a Shoveler though.
paul_j_c2000
Well-known member
Thanks for replying i am not really sure what you mean by drake in eclipse sorry
Michael Frankis
conehead
Hi Paul,
'eclipse' is when drakes (males) shed all their brightly coloured feathers at the end of the breeding season, and grow a new set of drab brown camouflage feathers, just like the ducks (females). They keep this for 3-4 months (July-September or so) while they are growing a new set of wing feathers and can't fly well if at all.
Your Shoveler is about three-quarters of the way out of eclipse now, starting to get his bright colours back (but you can still see a good line of brown feathers along the side)
Michael
'eclipse' is when drakes (males) shed all their brightly coloured feathers at the end of the breeding season, and grow a new set of drab brown camouflage feathers, just like the ducks (females). They keep this for 3-4 months (July-September or so) while they are growing a new set of wing feathers and can't fly well if at all.
Your Shoveler is about three-quarters of the way out of eclipse now, starting to get his bright colours back (but you can still see a good line of brown feathers along the side)
Michael
paul_j_c2000
Well-known member
Thanks for clearing that up michael it doesn't seem like you ever stop learning with the subject of birds this is a great forum i am learning so much thanks everyone
Similar threads
