The female mallard has a more muted beauty than the male, with a delicate light brown edging and centre line to her chocolate brown feathers and a bright blue wing-flash (speculum).

She also has her eyeliner right through the centre of her eye (not so prominent on the darker-faced one on the right).

The crested duck reflection

"Let us pray"

"They said I could be an angel in the nativity play"

The juvenile male looks similar to the female but has a yellow beak

Some metallic green feathers are starting to show on this one's head

"Me too"

Young ducks in line

Young males

"Calm down Dear!"

Mallard ducklings