Strange Female Mallard, Greater Manchester, UK (1 Viewer)

[Earnest lad]

I took this photo the other day on a local canal. I presume it to be a female Mallard. It was not shy. However I am a bit mystified as other female mallards I have seen have been more of a brownish colour.
Please does anyone know if this bird would be just a standard female mallard, or are there any comments that might be helpful.
Yours with thanks

 

[aeshna5]

Looks slightly darker than average, but otherwise pretty much standard Mallard.

 

[nartreb]

Looks like an ordinary female mallard to me. They can vary in hue, some are browner than others. But I think the greyness in this photo is mostly due to camera settings or lighting conditions. Surely the duckweed on the surface of the water was a much more saturated green than the photo shows?

The bird may also look a bit different than expected because so many of its feathers are out of place. I'm not sure, but its wings seem too short - perhaps it is missing some primary feathers

 

[Butty]

Look at the feather patterns! - especially scapulars - very different from those of an adult female. Presumably it's either eclipse male (despite the dull bill?) or juvenile.

 

[nartreb]

Ah, silly me, it's surely a juvenile. That would explain my sense of disproportion in the way the wings don't reach the tail.

 

[Earnest lad]

Looks slightly darker than average, but otherwise pretty much standard Mallard.

Thank you.

 

[Earnest lad]

Looks like an ordinary female mallard to me. They can vary in hue, some are browner than others. But I think the greyness in this photo is mostly due to camera settings or lighting conditions. Surely the duckweed on the surface of the water was a much more saturated green than the photo shows?

The bird may also look a bit different than expected because so many of its feathers are out of place. I'm not sure, but its wings seem too short - perhaps it is missing some primary feathers

Thank you :_)

 

[Earnest lad]

Look at the feather patterns! - especially scapulars - very different from those of an adult female. Presumably it's either eclipse male (despite the dull bill?) or juvenile.

I thought so too, but lacked knowledge to understand further. Your suggestion about either eclipse male or juvenile resonates. Especially the latter.

 

[Earnest lad]

Ah, silly me, it's surely a juvenile. That would explain my sense of disproportion in the way the wings don't reach the tail.

I am coming round to juvenile now, thanks to the contributors to the thread including yourself

 

[Earnest lad]

Thanks everyone.