This page contains photos of male ducks which have an eclipse plumage in the Summer. The eclipse plumage is much duller than the breeding plumage and often the male will resemble the female duck. Each species of duck listed below will show three photos including the male in breeding plumage, female, and male in eclipse plumage for comparison.
The feathers of a duck including the colour, patterns, and arrangement of these feathers are called the plumage. Some ducks have a very spectacular and colourful plumage such as the Mandarin, American Wood Duck, and Baikal Teal to name just a few. Generally it is the male (drake) that has the colourful plumage while the female (duck) has a more duller and drab appearance. Although it should be said that some Southern hemisphere duck species have a similar plumage between the two sexes.
Click on the Duck photographs to enlarge them or if you click on the Duck's name then it will take you to another page with information, more photos, and sometimes a video of that particular Duck.
In the Spring, the male (drake) requires its colourful plumage to attract a mate during the breeding season. In the Summer after the breeding season (or start of the non-breeding season) the male (drake) begins to moult, shedding all their feathers including the flight feathers. The female (duck) tends to moult slightly later when the ducklings are older. During this time for a short period they cannot fly so they find a safe place away from predators until their feathers grow back. This moult results in the eclipse plumage which gives the male (drake) a much duller plumage similar to the female (duck).
The eclipse plumage is worn for a few weeks or months, depending on the species of duck, before another moult occurs when the male (drake) will once again regain its colourful breeding plumage and can begin to attract a mate before the breeding season starts. This second moult is less severe and only involves the body feathers so that the ducks can still take to flight.
Click on the Duck photographs to enlarge them or if you click on the Duck's name then it will take you to another page with information, more photos, and sometimes a video of that particular Duck.