Okay, I've been into bird photography since around January of this year but I didn't really get "serious" (or hooked) until mid- to late-February.
I'm in Southern California, and I know that a lot of duck species are only here during winter, then they go back up North to breed in Spring.
A couple of these species that I know for sure fit this category are:
American Wigeon, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, and Northern Pintail.
Back in March of this year, I found both a Blue-winged male and a Green-winged Teal male at the same location on same day (at the time I didn't know what they were, though). I got really good, closeup shots, too. Both of these birds were in their "Sunday Best", meaning full breeding plumage.
I don't know if the American Wigeon male has the full coloring all year round like Mallard males (except during post-breeding molt, that is) but there were about 2 dozen of them at the lake that is in middle of my apt complex until around beg. of April, then suddenly they were gone (back up to the North for breeding, obviously).
My question is: Do the ducks that winter here get their breeding plumage back in early Spring BEFORE they go back to their breeding locations? I'm guessing they do, based on these two species that I photographed in March.
I'm hoping they do all get their breeding plumage before Spring Migration, so I can get some nice shots of the others (No. Shoveler, No. Pintail) in their full gorgous colors!
I'm sure there are some of you out there who know all about this; I tried to find out on internet but no luck.
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