What do the male Mallard Duck’s tail feathers look like? They are curl feathers.

The Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) has a short tail, like most ducks.

The male Mallard has a very distinctive tail. It has curl feathers. The female does not have curl feathers.

Its tail has white-bordered dark tail feathers. It usually has 2-4 black curl feathers. 

Not all ducks have a short tail. Some ducks have a long tail, such as the Scoter and the Eider.

Some ducks have a tail that sticks up like a paint brush, such as the Ruddy Duck and the Masked Duck. 

[Location of photographs: Tashkent, Uzbekistan]

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM