Purple headed Mallard

[Hugh Kingery]

Can anyone enlighten me and the observers about a male Mallard that seems consistently to show a purple head -- not simply reflected purple that we sometimes see?

Carole & Dan Blake have seen this bird fairly often in the past two weeks. From the picture, the Mallard looks like an ordinary wild Mallard drake - but with this purple head.

Hugh Kingery

[Joe Roller]

Hugh,

That seems to be a rare variant of Mallard.

Here are some links. THANKS for you interesting observation.

https://thenatureniche.com/2013/03/18/blue-headed-mallard/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/natureshooter/2475293699

"Purple" or "Blue" headed Mallards seem to be much less common 

than other prevalent color variant, 

the "white-headed" birder.

Joe Roller, Denver

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