This page completes wing growth in mallard ducklings and also shows adult feather molt. The next page will document eclipse plumage changes which happen each year on the male mallards.

Page 4 of 5
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Close view of growing flight feathers.
[Mallard standing in the grass with its back to the camera is stretching its wings and the line of white, blue, and white are clearly visible.]

Stretching one wing as well as a foot on that side. Within 10 days this girl will be flying.
[Back top view of a duck stretching its left wing straight back so the feathers are exposed but it is covering the rump end of the duck. The orange foot is visible just past the edge of the wing feathers.]

This mallard has yet to take its first flight, but it will soon be time because most all the feathers have fully developed.
[Side view of a mallard standing on a grassing area in the middle of the water with its wings stretched behind it. The white underfeathers of the near wing are clearly visible. The far wing has a smooth arc shape as all feathers appear to be adult length.]

One of the young ones has finally made it airborne.
[Mallard with its back to the camera is coming in for a landing on some ground near water. Its tail feathers are completely fanned and only the blue and white of the right wing is visible from this angle.]

Two weeks later they are consistently flying high.
[Two ducks are in the sky above a light post. The mallard in the front has both wings down as its head points forward. The rear duck must be banking as only the inside white of the far wing and its head are visible.]

For comparison purposes here's an adult male.
[Male in partial eclipse plumage stands in the water flapping its wings enough it creates a concentric ripples in the water. It's wings are slightly blurred from the movement. The full strip of dark blue is clearly visible on the near wing.]

In 2015 I noticed several mallard mommas growing new feathers in mid to late summer.
[Back view of a female mallard standing on the dirt at the water's edge. All of her flight feathers are gone, but the bluish stems of new feathers are visible in two places.]

A closer view of a different female whose feathers are just beginning to regrow.
[Side view of just the folded wing area on her left side. Numerous short white shafts are visible coming from two different directions (probably because the wing is folded).]

Continue to see male mallards change color. (page 5 of 5)

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All photos © S. M. Garver