At first glance, this picture looks like a simple bird puzzle, but the duck is missing one important feature: its head! The body rests on a small wooden log, with brown, grey and white feathers, a bright green patch on its wing, and distinctive orange feet. Your challenge is to choose which of the four heads, labeled A, B, C and D, completes the picture.

Look closely at Option A. It has a glossy green head, a white ring around the neck and a bright yellow bill. These are familiar features of a male mallard duck, whose colorful head and contrasting white neck ring make it easy to recognize. The green patch on the body’s wing, known as a speculum, is another clue that points toward a mallard.

The other options have different characteristics. Option B has a white head and orange bill, while Option C features a striking combination of white, black and orange markings with a reddish eye. Option D has mottled brown feathers and a multicolored bill. Although these heads belong to different-looking waterbirds, their appearance doesn’t match the body as closely as the green-headed candidate.

The correct answer is A! ✅ The green head, white neck ring and yellow bill are characteristic of a male mallard, matching the clues provided by the duck’s body. Did you spot the green wing patch before making your choice, or did the head itself give the answer away? 🦆