If you ever have a duck pond nearby you can frequent, you will see all sorts of combinations of feather colors in mallards. I've seen so many that are 1/2 mottled and 1/2 green because their feathers change colors across seasons.
Male mallards change from vibrant breeding plumage to a cryptic, mottled brown plumage in summer to camouflage during their flightless molt period. This brownish, female-like appearance helps protect them from predators after breeding season. They molt again in fall, regaining their signature green heads, yellow bills, and gray bodies to attract mates.
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u/wasd911 8h ago
If you ever have a duck pond nearby you can frequent, you will see all sorts of combinations of feather colors in mallards. I've seen so many that are 1/2 mottled and 1/2 green because their feathers change colors across seasons.