Mallard or wild duck - juvenile

Description:

This specimen is a juvenile male or drake.

Notes:

Mallards have a habit of periodically dipping their necks into the water when paddling and then throwing water over their backs and folded wings. In most cases when a duck is seen doing this, within a few seconds it stretches upright as best it can and moves its wings rapidly back and forth. When males perform this ritual, the bright blue markings on their wings, much where flaps would be on aircraft, are brightly displayed. Unfortunately, this image was taken in flat light, so the brilliance of the blue coloration was somewhat diminished.