RUDDY DUCK

Tail feathers from a ruddy duck. This makes it clear why ruddies belong to a variety of ducks known as "stiff-tailed."

NORTHERN PINTAIL

Rump feathers from drake pintail

NORTHERN PINTAIL

Flank feathers from hen pintail

NORTHERN PINTAIL

Secondary wing feathers (speculum) from hen pintail

NORTHERN PINTAIL

Tertial wing feathers from drake pintail

NORTHERN PINTAIL

Tail feathers from drake pintails

GREEN-WINGED TEAL

Covert wing feathers from drake green-winged teal

GREEN-WINGED TEAL

Secondary wing feathers (speculum) from drake green-winged teal

AMERICAN WIGEON

Tertial wing feathers from drake wigeon

NORTHERN SHOVELER

Tertial wing feather from drake northern shoveler - doesn't usually emerge until mid- to late-winter.

NORTHERN SHOVELER

Tertial wing feather from drake northern shoveler - doesn't usually emerge until mid- to late-winter.

NORTHERN SHOVELER

Coverts from drake northern shoveler

NORTHERN SHOVELER

Flank feather from drake northern shoveler

MALLARD

Tail feather from drake mallard - the lighting brings out the green in feathers that otherwise appear black.

MALLARD

Secondary wing feather (speculum) from drake mallard

GADWALL

Breast feathers from drake gadwall. Seriously! These come from the area where the dark scalloped feathers on the shoulders transition to the white feathers on the belly. Check out the story on these feathers here.

GADWALL

Covert wing feathers from drake gadwall

GADWALL

Tertial wing feather from drake gadwall

WOOD DUCK

Speculum feather from a drake wood duck.

WOOD DUCK

Breast feathers from a drake wood duck

Wood duck feathers

Feathers from the duck's rump - they just look black until you examine them one by one.