Mallard With Frozen Bill

Occurred on January 7, 2024 / Norrtälje, Stockholms län, Sweden

Info from Licensor: "I was walking out looking for wildlife and was freezing my face off, as it was -20 degrees C outside. Then I noticed this mallard in the river beside me and I suddenly realized that it could be worse. At first, I was worried that she was unable to open her mouth, which would mean that she couldn’t eat. Luckily, I saw when she opened her bill, and also that her nostrils were clear of ice. She was scratching the ice and shaking her head for a while, before tucking her bill under her feathers to melt the ice. It’s incredible what they endure each winter."