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Duck eclipse plumage identification

Eclipse Plumage

Mallard in eclipse plumage

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.

Duck species Male (Breeding plumage) Female Male (Eclipse plumage)
American Wigeon
(Anas Americana)



American Wigeon

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wigeon

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wigeon

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
American Wood Duck
(Aix Sponsa)



American Wood Duck

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wood Duck

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wood Duck

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Australian Shoveler
(Anas Rhynchotis)



Australian Shoveler

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Australian Shoveler

(Female)
Photo: Nigel Key

Australian Shoveler

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Baer's Pochard
(Aythya Baeri)



Baer's Pochard

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Baer's Pochard

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Baer's Pochard

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Canvasback
(Aythya Valisineria)



Canvasback

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Canvasback

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Canvasback

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Cinnamon Teal
(Anas Cyanoptera)



Cinnamon Teal

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Cinnamon Teal

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Cinnamon Teal

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Common Eider
(Somateria Mollissima)



Common Eider

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Eider

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Eider

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Eurasian Teal
(Anas Crecca)



Eurasian Teal

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Teal

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Teal

(Eclipse plumage)
Eurasian Wigeon
(Anas Penelope)



Eurasian Wigeon

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Wigeon

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Wigeon

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Falcated Duck
(Anas Falcata)



Falcated Duck

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Falcated Duck

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Falcated Duck

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Common Goldeneye
(Bucephala Clangula)



Common Goldeneye

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Goldeneye

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Goldeneye

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Hooded Merganser
(Lophodytes Cucullatus)



Hooded Merganser

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Hooded Merganser

(Female)
Photo: Nigel Key

Hooded Merganser

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Lesser Scaup
(Aythya Affinis)



Lesser Scaup

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Lesser Scaup

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Lesser Scaup

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Maccoa Duck
(Oxyura Maccoa)



Maccoa Duck

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Nigel Key

Maccoa Duck

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Maccoa Duck

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Mallard
(Anas Platyrhynchos)



Mallard

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Mallard

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Mallard

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Mandarin
(Aix Galericulata)



Mandarin

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Mandarin

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Mandarin

(Eclipse plumage)
Northern Shoveler
(Anas Clypeata)



Northern Shoveler

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Shoveler

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Shoveler

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Northern Pintail
(Anas Acuta)



Northern Pintail

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Pintail

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Pintail

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Common Pochard
(Aythya Ferina)



Common Pochard

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Nigel Key

Common Pochard

(Aythya Ferina)

Common Pochard

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Red-crested Pochard
(Netta Rufina)



Red-crested Pochard

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Red-crested Pochard

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Red-crested Pochard

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key
Redhead
(Aythya Americana)



Redhead

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Nigel Key

Redhead

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Redhead

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wigeon (Anas Americana)

American Wigeon

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wigeon

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wigeon

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wood Duck (Aix Sponsa)

American Wood Duck

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wood Duck

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wood Duck

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Australian Shoveler
(Anas Rhynchotis)

Australian Shoveler

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Australian Shoveler

(Female)
Photo: Nigel Key

Australian Shoveler

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Baer's Pochard
(Aythya Baeri)

Baer's Pochard

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Baer's Pochard

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Baer's Pochard

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Canvasback
(Aythya Valisineria)

Canvasback

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Canvasback

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Canvasback

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Cinnamon Teal
(Anas Cyanoptera)

Cinnamon Teal

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Cinnamon Teal

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Cinnamon Teal

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Eider
(Somateria Mollissima)

Common Eider

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Eider

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Eider

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Teal
(Anas Crecca)

Eurasian Teal

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Teal

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Teal

(Eclipse plumage)

Eurasian Wigeon
(Anas Penelope)

Eurasian Wigeon

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Wigeon

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Wigeon

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Falcated Duck
(Anas Falcata)

Falcated Duck

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Falcated Duck

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Falcated Duck

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Goldeneye
(Bucephala Clangula)

Common Goldeneye

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Goldeneye

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Goldeneye

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Hooded Merganser
(Lophodytes Cucullatus)

Hooded Merganser

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Hooded Merganser

(Female)
Photo: Nigel Key

Hooded Merganser

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Lesser Scaup
(Aythya Affinis)

Lesser Scaup

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Lesser Scaup

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Lesser Scaup

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Maccoa Duck
(Oxyura Maccoa)

Maccoa Duck

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Nigel Key

Maccoa Duck

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Maccoa Duck

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Mallard
(Anas Platyrhynchos)

Mallard

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Mallard

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Mallard

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Mandarin
(Aix Galericulata)

Mandarin

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Mandarin

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Mandarin

(Eclipse plumage)

Northern Shoveler
(Anas Clypeata)

Northern Shoveler

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Shoveler

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Shoveler

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Pintail
(Anas Acuta)

Northern Pintail

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Pintail

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Pintail

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Pochard
(Aythya Ferina)

Common Pochard

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Nigel Key

Common Pochard

(Aythya Ferina)

Common Pochard

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Red-crested Pochard
(Netta Rufina)

Red-crested Pochard

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Red-crested Pochard

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Red-crested Pochard

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

Redhead
(Aythya Americana)

Redhead

(Breeding plumage)
Photo: Nigel Key

Redhead

(Female)
Photo: Dave Key

Redhead

(Eclipse plumage)
Photo: Dave Key

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.




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