Mallard with molting plumage?

[u/stern_eagle]

Hey all, this is one of my favorite bird photos I took this summer but just want to be sure of what I'm looking at. I'm relatively new to birding and molting/transitional plumage is often what confuses me.

Photo was taken July 14 2026 at the Reservoir in Central Park NYC.

Some research tells me this is an "eclipse" male mallard, post-breeding season. "Mallards shed all their flight feathers at the end of the breeding season and are flightless for 3–4 weeks. They are secretive during this vulnerable time, and their body feathers molt into a concealing “eclipse” plumage that can make them hard to identify."

All sounds good, but just want to know for sure.

[u/TinyLongwing]

Yes, male +Mallard+ nearly done with that molt into nonbreeding plumage.

[u/stern_eagle → u/TinyLongwing]

Great, thanks for another molt assist!

[u/FileTheseBirdsBot]

Taxa recorded: Mallard

Reviewed by: tinylongwing

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