Ducks in Love

To human eyes at least, a lot of duck behavior is, shall we say, not quite consensual. But it isn’t for lack of trying on the males’ part. This time of year, the boys are on their best behavior, dressed in their finest finery and pitching fevered woo at just about anything feathered that floats past.

My favorites of the moment are the Green-winged Teal, and their hoarse little whistles are the dominant sound of wetlands large and small across the continent right now. Like most puddle ducks, the drakes assemble in, well, gangs around the demure females, and when the spirit descends, they go into full display, tossing their colorful manes and rising out of the water to show their white bellies and shocking green speculum.

Now be honest: could you resist these handsome rascals if you were a female teal?