Hello, everyone! Today on “Torimame,” let’s talk about the intriguing phenomenon in wild birds known as “Eclipse.” This unfamiliar word might pique your curiosity – what does it refer to?
“Eclipse” in English means “to lose power” or “to cover up.” It’s a term also used during solar or lunar eclipses. Interestingly, it’s related to the molting (feather changing) process in ducks.
For example, during the breeding season from spring to summer, male ducks display vibrant colors, but come autumn, their breeding season ends, and their plumage changes to more subdued colors, similar to females. This period of changed feather coloration is referred to as “Eclipse.”
Once the breeding season is over, the males no longer need to attract females. Additionally, more subdued colors make them less visible to predators, enhancing their survival. It’s as if they’ve lost their “shine,” much like an eclipse, showing the wisdom they possess to survive in the natural world.
In Japan, many ducks are known as “winter birds,” meaning they migrate from the cold Siberian regions to Japan in winter. However, these ducks molt from their “winter feathers” to “summer feathers” towards the end of autumn. In other words, they actually spend the winter in Japan with their summer plumage!
The winter birds that migrate to Japan have already finished their eclipse period and are starting to return to their vibrant summer plumage. Thus, observing ducks in winter can be seen as the most colorful time of the year, as they return to their breeding plumage.
The sight of ducks in their summer plumage during winter exemplifies a unique adaptation in the natural world. Spotting their vivid colors during the cold winter is one of the joys of birdwatching. Next time you’re out birdwatching, pay attention to the changing plumage of the ducks!
