Mottled Duck
(Anasfulvigula)
Photographed in the wild, Cape Coral, Florida Apr 2006
This southern duck is a very close
relative of the widespread Mallard. Recently, Mallard and Mottled ducks have
been bread together, and so the distinctive male plumage, which among these
birds enables females to identify mates of their own species, was gradually
lost. After thousands of years of evolutionary change, the two sexes are
coloured alike.
The most distinct feature about Mottled
Ducks, are their bills. Males have a bright, completely yellow bill, while
females are dusky yellow.
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