Male shoveler in 'eclipse' plumage

[gobbiner]

Ive never seen one in this plumage before is it solely for breeding thank you...Ray

[PMG]

I suspect it will be a juvenile bird coming into full plumage for the first time

Pauline

[aeshna5]

It's not in breeding plumage yet- that's when they look at their best. Maybe a 1st-winter drake as they look like this after the adults have moulted into full plumage.

[gobbiner]

Originally Posted by PMG

I suspect it will be a juvenile bird coming into full plumage for the first time

Pauline

Right thank you Pam

Originally Posted by aeshna5

It's not in breeding plumage yet- that's when they look at their best. Maybe a 1st-winter drake as they look like this after the adults have moulted into full plumage.

Cheers aeshna thats good to know

[dunlin]

Originally Posted by gobbiner

Ive never seen one in this plumage before is it solely for breeding thank you...Ray

Hi ray
eclipse plumage isnt for breeding, its what happens after breeding when the colourful male sheds its breeding colours for a more subdued plumage similar to the female.
sometimes during eclipse the male becomes flightless for a short while

[Dogghound]

This is an adult male in advanced eclipse plumage.

All male (and female) shovelers are flightless for a short period during their moult for around a month.

[RoyW]

Some Shoveler seem to take ages before they completely lose their eclipse plumage.
Young males of most duck species usually don't start to show the first signs of adult plumage until much later in the winter (sometime between late November and March).