Hi there
I took quite a lot of pictures yesterday on my walkabout in my area.
While looking at a group of Male Mallards, I could that one duck had a completely different coloured bill to the others.
Is there a reason for this or is it a juvenile thing that a younger male has a non-yellow bill
Just interested?
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Kathy,
Sorry I don't have an answer (nice picture by the way) but would you mind if I jumped on your thread? Whilst out walking the backwaters a couple of months ago, I spotted what I thought was obviously a Mallard but instead of a green coloured head it was mauve and the white ring around it's neck was smudged. I hope you don't mind but I wonder if the "oh so knowledgeable ones" could also explain that for me as well as answer your question. I have a photo of the duck in question if it would help.
Thanks
Kerry
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kezmo6310/
Hi Kezmo
No worries with the thread.
Please post your picture of the duck in question and that will make this thread all the more interesting {big smile}
Unknown said: Hi Kathy, Sorry I don't have an answer (nice picture by the way) but would you mind if I jumped on your thread? Whilst out walking the backwaters a couple of months ago, I spotted what I thought was obviously a Mallard but instead of a green coloured head it was mauve and the white ring around it's neck was smudged. I hope you don't mind but I wonder if the "oh so knowledgeable ones" could also explain that for me as well as answer your question. I have a photo of the duck in question if it would help. Thanks
Hi Kathy
Bless your heart, thank you :-) There were others too with even more splodgy markings, I put it down to a mish mash of the common Mallard so it would be interesting to know for sure.
Hi Blackbird
Nice pic of your Ducks,I don't know the answer about the different coloured beak!
I took this pic on sunday it was moving quite fast and a little distance away It has the same markings as Kesmo's Duck,brown body white on the neck area but this one has a green head.
Littleowl
Brilliant photos everyone.
I don't know the answer either, but we walk the dogs by our mallard-infested river every single day. There is a great variety in markings, and also in size. There are also escaped domestics amongst them, mainly pure white. The females also differ wildly. I have no idea why, but just assume they have at some stage interbred with other types of duck, and are now hybrids breeding withy hybrids.
Did you know that mallard drakes can be very unpleasant? They sometimes gather together in bachelor groups on the look out for unattached females. If they spot one they are likely to gang rape so to speak, then move on to the next. Apparently, rape is a normal reproductive strategy amongst mallard drakes. They regard this as normal, and more often than not, when ducklings hatch they can each have a different father.
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
Hi Sparrow
You are right about the mallard drakes performing a "gang rape" on a female duck. It can be very distressing to watch, especially as sometimes there are so many males on the female that she drowns.
This happened by us last year and the poor drake who was the original partner of the female stayed by her body on the canal for at least three days, don't know what happened to him in the end I suppose he just gave up.
Nature can be very cruel indeed.
Linda
What a wonderful world :))
Hi all
Sadly I don't know why some have different coloured beaks or heads and body colours either.
Sparrow, I also didn't know that Mallards were rapists either, but after seeing the Canada Geese fighting I can't say that I'm that surprised.
Best wishes Chris
Click Here to see my photos
Oh Linda, that is so sad. Indeed, nature can be very cruel. We watch all the mallards on "our" stretch of the river when we are dog walking and they give us a lot of pleasure when they pair up, and eventually when mum and ducklings take to the water. We have noticed many of the "pairings" are in fact a menage a tois, with 2 drakes and one hen, but they look so peaceful and content, it is hard to believe what they do in their spare time!
I still want to cry at your story ... big softy that I am.
That is an interesting picture of your Mallard and he is quite a colouration around the head and neck area. There is a large white slodge on the neck area too. Interesting to see.
Hi LittleOwl
Thank you for your kind comments about my pictures. Once more there is a variety of colouration around the head and neck area of your picture. Strange how that happens!
hi Sparrow
There are lots of hybrid ducks around now. IMHO, I wish it was not the case as pure species are best. Still it add some more character to the birds involved.
I have seem Female Mallards getting the brunt of the Male Mallards. Gosh the Female Mallards get a rough ride out of the whole situation in their lives.
One day, Dave and I split and female Mallard from at least 6 males chasing her, so she had a chance to get away for a break for herself. The Male birds where sitting on her and suffocating her in a bush - it was so rough and cruel.
A bit of an eye opener