14 June 2023
Every year, from overdue June till August, Canada ducks spend six weeks molting all their wing feathers. This implies they may be able to’t fly in July, nor even in overdue June.
On a stroll at Herr’s Island the previous day I noticed many Canada ducks swimming within the river and a couple of in their number one feathers — the “fingertip” feathers — scattered on shore. To start with I questioned if a goose were attacked after which I noticed the feathers have been an indication in their synchronous molt. Right here’s a snapshot from a an identical discovery made via Rebecca Johnson in 2020. (Click on at the snapshot to peer her video on YouTube.)
Although you don’t see discarded wing feathers you’ll inform a Canada goose is molting as a result of its white rump is visual above the darkish tail. It’s in point of fact noticeable from above.
Now and again you’ll see the pin feathers coming in. This marked up picture highlights the pin feathers and visual white rump.
In overdue June and July once they can not fly Canada ducks are secure handiest in water. You’ll see them feeding only a quick stroll from a big frame of water and significantly absent from landlocked puts.
When they may be able to fly once more and their tails will seem like this.
Have you ever spotted Canada ducks heading off folks in recent years? They aren’t as daring when they may be able to’t fly in overdue June and July.
(pictures from Wikimedia Commons, wing feather snapshot from Rebecca Johnson’s UA Museums video on YouTube)
p.s. There’s a principle that this kind of wing molt resulted in flightless birds in places the place threats have been low. Learn extra about it at: Simultaneous wing molt as a catalyst for the evolution of flightlessness in birds.