Small numbers of Wood Duck returned to our area’s largest marsh pond last week and have remained there as of yesterday. The males are still in their summer molt (their “eclipse” phase) but can fly a little. In this phase, the males’ brilliant bouffant hairstyles are reduced to drab buzz cuts, although the boys do retain their big Maraschino cherry eyes:
The females’ eyes remain attractively dark and are highlighted by white eyeliner:
It’s thought that the severity of the summer molt among male Wood Ducks evolved as a survival technique. When molting, the usually brightly colored ducks are flightless at times; being drab helps to camouflage them when they’re most vulnerable. This can be especially important for Wood Ducks, which (true to their name) perch on branches with their clawed feet and occupy tree trunk cavities. (Brooklin, Maine)