With a flourish of iridescent feathers, the male mallard duck rises from the water in a dazzling display of strength and splendour. This moment of vigorous wing-stretching serves both as a shake-off after a dive and a silent signal — to rivals, a warning; to onlookers, a performance of vitality. His emerald head catches the light, a beacon of health and dominance in the calm of the water.
Anas platyrhynchos
Shot with:
Canon EOS 6D + Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3
600mm | 1/3200 | f/6.3 | ISO4000