Harlequin and Mallard's heads the wrong color

[terenaterry]

My son has had ducks for a year now. His 1 1/2 year old ducks, specifically the mallard and Harlequin males, have changed head color to a tweedy tan and brownish with a few streaks of green. Not very pretty. Are they sick? Are they missing something from their diet? Are they just taking forever to molt? They have been like this all summer. Thank you! Terena and Sheldon

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

they are just in what is called eclpise plumage...basically yes like you said, they are molted into their summer colors. Mallards like most wild ducks have a breeding plumage and this eclipse plumage, each last about 6 months.

They are fine and will be back in color this fall. That's the only draw back to them, they are only pretty half the year, the rest of the time they look very similar to hens.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

 

[terenaterry]

What a relief! Thank you! Eclipse plumage....

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep that's all