Resting Lady - Female Mallard
Ronald W. Schlorff©
Original (7 x 9.5) - $850.00
In the world of the duck, the female of the species is often subdued in coloration in order to better blend in with her surroundings. This is important for ground nesting birds such as most waterfowl since they have many mammalian and avian predators that would like nothing better than to dine on their clutch of eggs or newly hatched young. Shortly after hatching, the young are able to fend for themselves but the first few minutes may be critical if a fox or mink appears. The female has most of the nesting duties and her camouflage is important to the survival of her kind. She does, however, have one bright bit of feathers, the same patch she shares with her mate, the speculum. This irridescent spot of blue in her secondary feathers is striking against her otherwise drab and mottled plumage.
In this painting I have depicted a resting hen mallard who, never-the-less, keeps an eye open for potential danger. The brilliant blue of her speculum is offset by her brown mottled body feathers and echoes the color of the placid water behind her. She strikes a dainty and feminine pose with one foot supporting her weight and the other slightly raised.
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