They move around so much it is actually hard to get a clear picture. They are also still a little shy of the flash on the camera. I will have to be more stealthy. But, you can still see how beautiful their plumage is! The males' heads are noticeably greener than the females. They are also bigger. The females have more purple in the iridescence of their feathers. Another difference of the two is that the males have a quiet quack whereas the females are incredibly loud. And it sounds just like the word "quack." Except for really loud: QUACK, QUACK, QUACK, QUACK. Stress the first quack and then do the following three in a decreasing crescendo and you will be close to impersonating them. It is nice to have a distinction between them finally. I am not sure if I said this already, but before it was like, as Steve would say, we had one large duck with twenty-two legs.
Two weeks ago, I saw one eat a frog!! It was outrageous. This duck ran around with the poor little frog legs hanging out of its beak while the other ducks tried to pull it away from her. This went on for a spell until all the other ducks gave up and went back to grazing. It took awhile for the frog-eating duck to realize it was all hers. Then she promptly swallowed it whole. I wonder if it tasted like chicken.
