Plumage - Eclipse Plumage

Eclipse Plumage

Many ducks have bright, colourful plumage, exhibiting strong sexual dimorphism to attract the females. However, they moult into a dull plumage after breeding in mid-summer. This drab, female-like appearance is called eclipse plumage. When they shed feathers to go into eclipse, the ducks become flightless for a short period of time. Some duck species remain in eclipse for one to three months in the late summer and early fall, while other would retain the cryptic plumage until the next spring when they undergo another moult to return to their breeding plumage. Although mainly found in the Anatidae, a few other species (for example the related Red Junglefowl) also have an eclipse plumage. In contrast to the ducks, many species of the Cotinga family, such as the Guianan Cock-of-the-rock retain their exuberant plumage, thus showing the diversity of the class Aves.