BACK COUNTRY BY ROBERT ADAMS

Fall 2026

Three mottled ducks swim through shallow water, dabbling in the mud for food. The species is also commonly seen walking through cattle pastures and traveling along irrigation canals with ducklings in tow. The two ducks on the left are males, while the duck on the right is a female. The males have bright yellow bills, while the female’s bill is darker. Both sexes display an iridescent blue-green wing patch. Some mottled ducks migrate north as far as South Carolina, while others remain in Florida year-round.