How do ducks use eclipse plumage after the breeding season?

In male ducks, the eclipse plumage is a dull, female-like covering that replaces their usual bright breeding colors after the nesting season. This transition serves as a protective measure during a vulnerable period in the bird's life cycle.12

Following the breeding season, male ducks often undergo a "molt-migration" to specific areas where they shed all of their flight feathers simultaneously. Because this process renders them temporarily flightless for three to four weeks, the dull eclipse plumage provides essential camouflage. During this time, the birds typically skulk in thick vegetation or remain on large bodies of water to avoid detection while they wait for their new flight feathers to grow. Once the new feathers are fully developed, the eclipse plumage is eventually replaced by the next nuptial plumage.321