Anas platyrhyncos

Mallard

Main author: Stina Andersson, July 2014.
Supplemented by: Magnus Hellström, July 2014, Daniel Bengtsson, February 2016.
Citation: Ottenby Bird Observatory. 2015. Ringers’ DigiGuide – Anas platyrhyncos. www.ringersdigiguide.ottenby.se

MOULT

                     Adult         Young

Summer       SC              sp

Winter          wp              wp

Young sp: The post-juvenile moult (c. July-September) includes parts of body, e.g. breast, flank, parts of mantle, scapulars and head.

Young wp: The pre-breeding moult (c. August-November, but often prolonged during winter/early spring) starts shortly after completing the post-juvenile moult. Includes most of body parts, scapulars, TT, tertial-c and tail. The extent and timing of the moult is much depending on the date of hatching. Females usually retain some juvenile TT and tertial-c until the following spring, whereas most males have moulted all TT by late November (probably due to sexual selecton).

Adult SC: The post-breeding moult (c. May-September) includes the complete plumage. Flightless for c. four weeks in mid-summer while moulting primaries.

Adult wp: The pre-breeding moult (c. August-November, but often prolonged during winter/early spring) starts shortly after completing the post-breeding moult. Includes various parts of body, scapulars, TT, tertial-c and tail.

SEX:

Autumn

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