Two Ducks

What do these two ducks have in common?  Well, for one they were spotted at the same pond. There are both wood ducks.

The top one is a male duck. The bottom I was not sure what it was. The markings on the head looked male. But the color of the body was female.

At first I thought it might be a mixed breed of a mallard and a wood duck. The male on the top picture was courting a female mallard. So I researched it on the internet.

Well, it turned out that the male wood duck loses its color out of mating season. The two ducks are actually the same male duck. I am just catching him at different times of his life.

It was once said that a leopard can't change his spot. But a duck can change his color. I can't wait until mating season comes again. I love the colors of the wood duck at this time. Until than I will enjoy getting to know this little fellow a little more. He is just too darn cute.