Every duck season, waterfowlers eagerly await the arrival of flights of mallards from the north. The big push of these hardy birds usually occurs on the heels of an Arctic cold front or blizzard, often late in the duck season. Legend has it that these late-arriving mallards have bright red legs and feet because of cold temperatures in northern latitudes. This is partially true, in that ducks do have increased circulation in their extremities in cold conditions, but this process doesn’t affect the coloration of their legs. In reality, the legs and feet of drake mallards turn bright red because of rising testosterone in their bodies. This hormonal surge occurs in association with courtship activities that take place in late fall and winter. Just as the comb of a rooster or the wattles of a gobbler turn blood-red during the breeding season, so do the legs of drake mallards while pairing. Older, heavier mallards, typically begin pairing earlier in the fall than juvenile birds, so they are the first to exhibit bright red legs. These mature birds also are more capable of withstanding bitter cold weather, which explains why the “northern redlegs” are often especially large birds and are among the last to arrive on their wintering grounds.