At the end of the summer (August/September) and before getting their new plumage for the winter, all ducks moult their plumage.
Feathers wear out and will therefore have to be replaced at least once a year.
As a rule, this does not happen during the strenuous or difficult breeding season, migration season or winter.
That is why most birds moult in late summer, so between the breeding and migration seasons.
The new plumage is the winter plumage.
It ensures that the birds are in top condition for a long migration or to survive the winter.
Due to the simultaneous moult of the flight feathers, they cannot fly for a short time (3-4 weeks) and then a camouflaged plumage is very useful to not stand out from predators.
During this moult (eclipse plumage), the male Mallard, which is very conspicuous the rest of the year, has a non-descript brown plumage which looks very much like the female Mallard.
In its eclipse plumage, the male Mallard can be distinguished from the female by the green/yellow bill; that of the female is brownish.
1st photo: A male. Lucca, Tuscany, Italy, 21 September 2019
2nd & 3rd photo: Male & female. Lago di Massaciuccoli, Torre del Lago Puccini, Tuscany, Italy, 21 September 2019