Pintail Coloring

We have more sprig in Ca than the rest of the country combine or it seems like it and we can only shoot one ... sometimes common sense should over ride wrong science .. Because the simple fact is that there are never going to be sprig where historically they have never been ... Sorry Sore subject .. I've Killled and mounted lots of them over my many yrs of waterfowlin and seen them in both phases you talked about . I'm not a biologist but from what I've noticed is that they get the brighter vibrant contrasting feather colors before mating season . I tell clients if they want a Sprig or Greenhead to mount ... shoot it in the last week of the season , the colors are more vibrant . Pretty much most waterfowl in general , the Males at least get these more vibrant colors before mating season ...

 

X2 on GotHonks comment. I have raised all species over the years and they always get more vibrant breeding colors as it gets closer to their breeding time.

 

I've been told that Pen raised birds colors are not as brilliant as wild ones so with that is it possible that food has something to do with their color variances. I notice their is differences in the fat on birds of the same species which is related to their food so it may be possible that the main staple of food cold cause that ?? I'm no expert it just an opinion.

 

There is a lot of articles out there that explain how food affects bird feather coloring, here are some interesting articles.
https://asunow.asu.edu/content/bird-feathers-color-research-duck-nutrition
https://www.ducks.org/Conservation/Waterfowl-Research-Science/Birds-of-a-Feather

 

It's all about the habitat .... ha ha

 

lmao

 

Was thinking you would appreciate that.

Have a great day!

 

lol