22 MOULTS AND PLUMAGES 



MOULTS AND PLUMAGES 



MOULTS OF THE DUCKS 



MOULTS OF THE ADULT MALE 

 THE "ECLIPSE" PLUMAGE 



In the early summer, as soon as the females are well established in 

 their incubation duties, the males of most of the ducks desert them, 

 gather into flocks by themselves, and proceed to moult their bright 

 winter plumage. 



During this moult, the brilliant plumage of the males in gradually 

 replaced by a somber, inconspicuous dress, which, in most cases, is almost 

 identical with that of the adult female. This plumage is known as the 

 "eclipse" plumage. 



The moult which results in the eclipse plumage is known as the 

 "post-nuptial" or "eclipse" moult. It consists of a complete moult of 

 the body-, tail-, and wing-feathers. 



When the drake Mallard, for example, is in full eclipse, no trace 

 whatever remains of the bright green head, chestnut chest, or plain grey 

 breast and sides; all these bright colours and distinctive markings have 

 been exchanged for a plumage which is identical with that of the drab- 

 looking female. This female-like eclipse plumage is worn for about one 

 month. While this moult is at its height, the males lose their flight- 

 feathers; these are shed simultaneously and the birds are rendered flight- 

 less until the flight-feathers are replaced. The wing-feathers of the male, 

 which are shed during the eclipse moult, are renewed unchanged in 

 colour and form, the wing being the only feature which does not take 

 on the aspect of that of the female. 



No sooner have the flight-feathers grown in again, than the drakes 

 commence a second moult, during which the female-like plumage of the 

 eclipse is gradually replaced by the brilliant colours of the full winter 

 plumage. This second moult is usually started by about the beginning 

 of September, and takes a considerable time to complete. Thus it is in 

 the more northern climes, that in the autumn (the gunning season), 

 adult males are never seen in the full winter plumage, but instead, are 

 found in various stages of moult toward the resplendent winter dress. 



This autumn moult, which results in the full plumage of the drake, 

 is known as the "pre-nuptial" moult. In this work it is described as 

 the "autumn plumage," but actually it is a prolonged moult. It is a 

 partial moult only, as the wing-feathers, renewed during the eclipse, are 

 not again moulted; it does, however, concern the rest of the plumage 

 including the tail. 



The startling nature of the phenomenon of the eclipse moult is 

 illustrated on Colour Plate No. 6 (which see), in which the Mallard 

 drake is shown in various stages of the moult out of eclipse. 



