![]() |
source |
The Coat:
Before we explore the many features of this beautiful creature, we'll touch upon what is on everyones mind, his color. The drakes breeding plumage is exactly what you think it's for, getting the girls. However, once this colorful waterfowl seals (or does not seal) the deal with a lovely young duck he settles down and in late spring recedes to his eclipse plumage; a process during which he molts his glorious sail feathers and vibrant coat for a more humble, neutral attire. Important to this process, other than becoming less visually appealing, is the process by which his new feathers come in.Remigial moult is one of the crucial events in the annual life cycle of waterfowl as it is energetically costly, lasts several weeks, and is a period of high vulnerability due to flightlessness. In waterfowl, remigial moult can be considered as an energy-predation trade-off, meaning that heavier individuals would minimise the flightless period by increasing feather growth rate and energy expenditure. Alternatively, they could reduce body mass at the end of this period, thereby reducing wing-loading to increase flight capability (source).
![]() |
Mandarin Drake in Eclipse Plumage source |
The lengths to which animals (including humans) will stretch to reproduce is extremely interesting. Reproduction is so important to them that they will literally risk their lives once a year for an extended period of time (for several weeks during their remigial molt) just to an gain advantage in reproduction. I wonder what their thoughts are on this practice, it has apparently not drastically hindered their ability to exist.
The Courtship:
What you all came here to see, the magic happening (**THIS IS NOT PG).
No comments:
Post a Comment