Tag: barbules

• Why do ducks have blue wing flashes?

  

  Many types of dabbling ducks have iridescent wing patches called specula (singular: speculum). These flashes are usually blue or green, although the colour can vary somewhat according to the angle and the lighting conditions. Ducks can also control the extent to which these flashes are visible when their wings are folded (see below). In Mallards…

  rcannon992

  July 3, 2021

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  Anas platyrhynchos, barbules, courtship, courtship displays, duck flashes, ducks, iridescence, iridescent feathers, mallard, mate choice, mate selection, nanostructures, plumage, specula, speculum