Orange-headed male Mallard

[Floyd Hayes]

Has anybody ever seen a male Mallard with an orange head? Photos of one in California are posted here:

http://www.geocities.com/floyd_hayes/mallard

If you have seen one before or have any ideas on why its head is orange, I would be delighted to hear from you.

Floyd Hayes
Hidden Valley Lake, CA

[AndyB]

Odd looking bird. I guess I don't pay too much scrutiny to Mallards, having seen so many weird variations and domestic hybrids of Mallards over the years, nothing seems to surprise me with this species.

[timmyjones]

Either a hybrid or its just lacking certain pigmentation in its head.

[Johnny X]

Doesn't look that odd to me!. Is it not just a drake coming out of eclipse plumage?. The head is hardly what I would call 'orange'.

[AndyB]

yes, there looks like there could be a bit of evening sun on it giving it those warmer tones.