Consider the variation between male and female ducks. We might use the word drab to describe the hen, while the drake catches our eye with his brilliant color. That’s the point, the hen blends in and came much closer to me today, almost undetected. The multi-colored drake stayed much farther away, not blending in to the reeds very well and a first target to predator’s eyes. The hen feeds and the drake stays alert, good plan.
