These Mallard Ducks, part of a migrating flock, illustrate well the male's head coloring. The color is due to refraction of light in the fine structure of their feathers and not to intrinsic coloration of the feathers. While it usually shows a greenish hue, as in the duck above, it can also show a purple shade as the angle of the light changes, below. Either of these ducks can show either color with a turn of the head.
The duck above was occupied with driving off a rival that came too close.
This pair of Mallards is part of the group that stays on Shadyside Lake the year around. They have discovered "his and hers" perches on the same snag.
The Dark-eyed Junco spends the summer in Canada, but winters in Indiana and states to the south. They are common winter visitors.
