Mallard (Drake)

This feather belongs to a male (drake) Mallard. Male Mallards are famous for their iridescent green heads and yellow bills, but their flanks are covered in these intricate, finely barred feathers. The overall bird is a large dabbling duck with a 32–39 inch wingspan.

Highly distinctive 'vermiculated' pattern consisting of fine, wavy, zigzag black or dark grey lines on a white or pale silvery-grey background.

Semipennaceous; the top half has interlocked barbs (pennaceous) creating the pattern, while the base is downy and fluffy (plumulaceous) for insulation.

Extremely soft and silky to the touch. The lower plumulaceous section is airy, while the patterned section is smooth and slightly water-repellent.

Black-and-white 'vermiculated' or 'wave' pattern; small size; fluffy base; soft texture.

Highly adaptable: wetlands, marshes, lakes, rivers, city parks, and flooded fields.

Circumpolar distribution; native to North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and widely introduced elsewhere.

Generalist omnivore and prey species; Mallards play a significant role in dispersing aquatic plant seeds through their movements.

Gadwall (Anas strepera) flank feathers are similar but usually have a tighter, more uniform grey scale pattern. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) flank feathers are more golden-tan.

The 'vermiculation' pattern acts as a form of disruptive camouflage, breaking up the bird's outline against the shimmering surface of the water.

Fair to Good. There is some separation of the barbs (zipper-like structure unhooked), which is natural for a molted or handled feather.

i was given this feather and do not know where it was found. it is very tiny and soft