diff --git a/src/app/globals.css b/src/app/globals.css
index ad33682..8106acc 100644
--- a/src/app/globals.css
+++ b/src/app/globals.css
@@ -637,8 +637,13 @@ code {
 /* Card media fades in over the always-present duck fallback layer. */
 .media-layer { opacity: 0; transition: opacity 240ms ease; }
 .media-layer.media-ready { opacity: 1; }
+/* ...and the duck fades out with it: the Pollen clips are alpha-transparent
+   WebMs, so a lingering duck would show through the transparent regions. */
+.media-fallback-card { transition: opacity 240ms ease; }
+.media-fallback-card.media-fallback-hidden { opacity: 0; }
 @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
-  .media-layer { transition: none; }
+  .media-layer,
+  .media-fallback-card { transition: none; }
 }
 
 .behavior-media-cue {
diff --git a/src/components/MediaPreview.tsx b/src/components/MediaPreview.tsx
index ccab490..a836d08 100644
--- a/src/components/MediaPreview.tsx
+++ b/src/components/MediaPreview.tsx
@@ -138,8 +138,12 @@ export function MediaPreview({ media, title, variant }: MediaPreviewProps) {
   // case that the hydration race makes untrustworthy via events alone.)
   useEffect(() => setVideoReady(false), [videoUrl, showVideo]);
 
+  // Cards crossfade: when the media layer reveals, the duck fallback fades
+  // out — necessary because the Pollen clips are alpha-transparent WebMs,
+  // so an opaque-feeling video would still show the duck through it.
+  const mediaRevealed = showVideo ? videoReady : imageLoaded;
   const layerClass = variant === "card"
-    ? ` media-layer${(showVideo ? videoReady : imageLoaded) ? " media-ready" : ""}`
+    ? ` media-layer${mediaRevealed ? " media-ready" : ""}`
     : "";
 
   let mediaNode: ReactNode = null;
@@ -199,7 +203,11 @@ export function MediaPreview({ media, title, variant }: MediaPreviewProps) {
   if (variant === "card") {
     return (
       <>
-        <div ref={observeMedia} className="media-fallback media-fallback-card" aria-hidden="true">
+        <div
+          ref={observeMedia}
+          className={`media-fallback media-fallback-card${mediaRevealed ? " media-fallback-hidden" : ""}`}
+          aria-hidden="true"
+        >
           <DuckMark size={48} />
         </div>
         {mediaNode}