Speculum feathers
Videos
The speculum is a patch, often distinctly coloured, on the secondary wing feathers, or remiges, of some birds.
A male mallard. The speculum feathers are bright blue with white edges
Mallard
Videos
The mallard or wild duck is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa. It has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Ur
Speculum feathers
…Pacific black duck: Iridescent green, edged light buff. Mallard: Iridescent purple-blue with white edges. American black duck: Iridescent violet bordered in black and may have a thin white trailing edge…
Anas platyrhynchos male female quadrat
An American black duck (upper left) and a male mallard (lower right) in eclipse plumage
Mallards are among the most common bird species to exhibit aberrant colouration, typically due to the influence of escaped domesticated ducks, more rarely to genetic mutations. The female pictured here is leucistic; leucism in birds often results in 'cream-coloured', 'apricot' or muted feathers on certain parts of the body.
Drake mallard performing the grunt-whistle