Mallard (Drake), Wild Duck, Green-head

This feather belongs to the iconic Mallard drake. The bird is known for its iridescent green head, yellow bill, and chestnut breast. These specific grey vermiculated feathers wrap around the bird's flanks, contrasting with the dark tail and white neck ring. Mallards are heavy-bodied ducks that are the ancestors of most domestic duck breeds.

Base color is white or very pale grey. The distal tip features fine, dark grey/black 'vermiculation' or wavy zig-zag lines. This creates a stippled, salt-and-pepper appearance characteristic of males in alternate plumage.

The distal 25% is pennaceous and tightly interlocked to create a solid vane; the proximal 75% is plumulaceous (semiplume-like), being very loose, downy, and fluffy for insulation.

The distal vane is smooth and somewhat water-repellent; the basal downy portion is incredibly soft, silky, and voluminous for heat retention.

Fine 'vermiculated' wavy grey lines on a white background at the tip, paired with an exceptionally large, fluffy white downy base.

Stagnant or slow-moving water, wetlands, marshes, lakes, city ponds, and agricultural fields.

Ubiquitous throughout the Northern Hemisphere; found across North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. Highly migratory in northern latitudes.

Generalist consumer; they act as seed dispersers and are a major prey source for hawks, owls, and mammalian predators. They are important indicators of wetland health.

Gadwall (Anas strepera) flank feathers have a similar but finer and more crescent-shaped pattern; Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) drakes also have similar flank feathers but often with different proportions.

Mallards are 'dabbling ducks,' meaning they tip head-first into the water to feed rather than diving. They are highly adaptable and can hybridize with many other duck species.

Excellent condition. The barbs are mostly intact, indicating a freshly molted or recently lost feather. No evidence of feather lice or heavy wear is visible.