Common Eiders in the Netherlands (plumage question) (1 Viewer)

[Tom St]

Find attached a photo of a flock of Common Eiders photographed from the ferry near Lauwersoog in the Netherlands on 8th October 2022.
Not a species ID question.
I have marked two individuals with a plumage pattern corresponding neither to breeding-plumage males, nor non-breeding plumage males, nor immature males, nor females.
Are these two plumages of adult males in the process of going from non-breeding to breeding plumage (the purple individual being further along than the red one)?
Thanks!

 

[Butty]

Male eiders come in all sorts of piebald colour patterns all year round. In October, such birds are presumably either 1-year-olds which haven't yet acquired full adult plumage or adults in eclipse or moulting from eclipse into breeding plumage. Immature and eclipse plumages are variable, so I wouldn't assume anything about which particular individuals are 'further along'.

 

[Tom St]

Thanks @Butty