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Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3064 W: 231 N: 6154] (21022)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-05-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-30 3:38
Viewed: 563
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Mallard (Female)
Anas platyrhynchos

Canard colvert (French)
Pato de collar (Spanish)

One of the most familiar of ducks, the Mallard is found throughout North America and all across Eurasia. Where it does not occur naturally, it often has been introduced. It is found in all kinds of wetlands and is a familiar inhabitant of urban park ponds.

Description:
Large dabbling duck.
Male with iridescent green head, rusty chest, and gray body.
Female mottled brown.
Size: 50-65 cm (20-26 in)
Wingspan: 82-95 cm (32-37 in)
Weight: 1000-1300 g (35.3-45.89 ounces)
Sex Differences
Male with bright green head and pale body, female dull brown all over.

Sound
Female gives loud series of quacks. Male makes softer, rasping "rab," also a grunt and whistle during display. Wings whistle in flight.

Conservation Status
Most widespread and abundant duck in North America, and the most heavily hunted. Populations closely tracked by wildlife agencies.

Cool Facts:

The Mallard is the ancestor of nearly all domestic duck breeds (everything except the Muscovy Duck). Many of the domestic breeds look like the wild birds, but usually are larger. They are variable in plumage, often lacking the white neck ring or having white on the chest. Feral domestic ducks breed with wild Mallards and produce a variety of forms that often show up with wild ducks, especially in city parks.
The widespread Mallard has given rise to a number of populations around the world that have changed enough that they could be considered separate species. The "Mexican Duck" of central Mexico and the extreme southwestern United States and the Hawaiian Duck both are closely related to the Mallard, and in both forms the male is dull like the female. The Mexican Duck currently is considered a subspecies of the Mallard, while the Hawaiian Duck is still given full species status.
Mallard pairs are generally monogamous, but paired males actively pursue forced extra-pair copulations. Copulation between members of a pair usually takes place in the water after a long bout of elaborate displays. Forced copulations are not preceded by displays, and several males may chase a single female and mate with her.
Mallard pairs form long before the spring breeding season. Pairing takes place in the fall, but courtship can be seen all winter. Only the female incubates the eggs and takes care of the ducklings.

Source
Proframe, Adanac, lawhill, goutham_ramesh, iris has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To janhendrik: Thanks for your critique : )manyee 1 05-31 14:24
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Critiques [Translate]

Very nice pose of the duck Manyee.
Very good sharpness and excellent exposure and composition.
Deatails in the feathers and light are lovely.
Very well done. Best regards, Harry

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2007-05-30 5:31]

Hello Manyee,
Fantastically sharp image with great depth of field giving this image amazing plummage detail throughout, thanks Manyee.
Rick

Hello Manyee,
Great shot on the rigth momento, nice colors and shapness
good composition, well done. best regards/Lawhill

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 1627] (5989)
  • [2007-05-30 12:08]

Hello Manyee, nice shot! perfect timing, the collors and details are fantastic, I love the "I'm out of here" expression of the bird..well done

Hi,
Very good POV. The sharpness and colors are amazing.I also liked the details on the wings
TFS
goutham R

  • Great 
  • mbasil Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 336 W: 149 N: 745] (3304)
  • [2007-05-30 21:01]

Great capture, Manyee. Good details and light, and I like the nice tight crop. There is just a touch of wave in the bottom right that I would crop out, though. But another winner.
Mike

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-05-30 23:38]

Hello Manyee

A very well focused shot with lovely sharp details.The lady duck is captured in a interesting pose and the plumage is well defined.Excellent eye contact.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2007-05-31 6:52]

Hello Manyee

An awesome shot .The light falling on its wings has brilliantly exposed its details.
The eyes 're amazing.
The water around is so very neautifully creating little wave.The postyre of the bird is fantastic too.
TFs & Cheers

Wow - that rocks! Incredible detail from the plumage to the eye.
Great clarity as well. Bravo! Cheers, Klaus

Wow Manyee,

You are performing magic with your camera! Incredible image. Did you do a lot of post-processing? Very good light. It is really a good picture.

Jan-Hendrik

Hi Manyee,
A very nice clear image of this water fowl the lighting illuminates your subject evenly with really good results. :)0

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