This duck was hanging around with a group of Mallards and my first thought was that it was probably a domestic escapee. But then I noticed its curled tail feathers and that made me wonder if it could be a white Mallard?
Yes its probably a mallard/domestic duck hybrid.
The curly tail means its a male.
And agree with domestic duck
Ray
It's a white Mallard, AND (almost certainly) a domestic escapee. Most domestic ducks are pure Mallard, just selectively bred to develop certain traits, whether colour, size or shape :)
Thanks all. Does only the drake Mallard have the curly tail feathers? I can't say I've noticed them on other species.
Yes, only male Mallards have the curls. When Mallards hybridise with other duck species, the male offspring often have somewhat upturned tail feathers but not the tight curl.
Here's a link to a photo of a male Mallard x Pintail hybrid: http://www.bobsteelephoto.com/Images/Species_Images/mall_nopi/mall_nopi_D4213.jpg
and a male Wigeon x Mallard: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33236701@N07/3187797186/lightbox/
Fascinating pics Aiki, thanks.
They're not fussy, Mallards, are they? :)
They're really not! They have been known to hybridise with 69 other bird species, including some geese (!) as well as nearly all duck species.
Pekin Duck
Maybe so but it's still basically a Mallard.
en.wikipedia.org/.../Pekin_Duck