March 5, 2026
The Sky’s the Limit for This Birder
Fewer than 500 people worldwide have reported seeing this African bird – a blue-moustached bee-eater. Photo by Marc Chelemer By…
Nature Done Wright
Incorporating the Celery Farm and Screech Owl Companion blogs
February 28, 2022
Monday Morning Mystery 022822
John Pastore writes:
Saw these Mallards Feb. 23, in Ramsey.
I was struck by their sapphire blue (rather than emerald green) heads, but I know that digital cameras sometimes 'see things in a unique way', depending how the light is hitting the subject. Especially something iridescent.
I did some Googling, and found a lot of people swear to have seen dark-blue-to-purple-headed mallards.
What say our local birding community?
Trick of the light, or a variant?
4 comments
-
By the way, a similar structural color phenomenon is responsible for the blue of Bluebirds and Blue Jays. More birds to check out, John!
-
Trick of the light!
-
Thanks Diane. I will be paying more attention to Mallards, to observe this phenomenon.
-
Trick of the light. Iridescent feather colors are due to the refraction of light in the feather — so-called “structural” (vs. “pigmented”) color.Depending on the position of the Mallard’s drake head relative to the viewer, the color will shift from purple to green. Same phenomenon with Grackles, Hummingbird gorgets, etc.
Leave your comment
Related Post
March 3, 2026
First Review: ‘The Peregrine Falcon’
I am pleased to share Booklist's magazine of my upcoming book... The Peregrine Falcon: The Epic Life and Times of…February 27, 2026
Revolutionary News!
On Thursday, the Allendale Borough Council plans to honor Founding Father John Fell, who was known as the "Great Tory…
February 20, 2026
World’s Largest Pigeon!
For a limited time only, The High Line in Manhattan is home to "Dinosaur," a huge statue of a pigeon…
4 comments
Diane
By the way, a similar structural color phenomenon is responsible for the blue of Bluebirds and Blue Jays. More birds to check out, John!
COOX2
Trick of the light!
John Pastore
Thanks Diane. I will be paying more attention to Mallards, to observe this phenomenon.
Diane
Trick of the light. Iridescent feather colors are due to the refraction of light in the feather — so-called “structural” (vs. “pigmented”) color.Depending on the position of the Mallard’s drake head relative to the viewer, the color will shift from purple to green. Same phenomenon with Grackles, Hummingbird gorgets, etc.