hsteen

Nam Sang Wai
22-11-2007
Swarovski ATS 80HD + Fuji Finepix S5 Pro

I have tried to compare this duck with other photos but are confused about the white breast:
Do you know the name of this duck?

kmatthew

looking at the bill shape, it is a Northern Shoveler. It is a first winter bird??

hsteen

Thanks
That's what I thought - most of these ducks around there.
But the white breast (maybe overexposed) confused me.

hkwongkit

Indeed the white is blown!  

wgeoff

I think this is a male Shoveler coming out of 'eclipse' plumage, which is the female-like plumage male ducks take when moulting their feathers at the end of summer. Apparently Shovelers can retain this plumage into winter - see the attached note on eclipse plumage from the US Wildlife Service

"Nearly all drakes lose their bright plumage after mating, and for a few weeks resemble females. This hen-like appearance is called the eclipse plumage. The return to breeding coloration varies in species and individuals of each species. Blue-winged teal and shovelers may retain the eclipse plumage until well into the winter"

This is why it appears half-way between a male and a female.