Hi all,
On the Thames near my place there are a fair number of cross-bred mallards. I can tell they are mallard crosses because of the main colours of the plumage and the males have the two curly feathers above the tail.
They all look suspiciously like they are cross-bred with pintails, with lots of white up the neck, and sometimes the neck looks longer and slimmer.
Does anyone know if the mallardXpintail is the only really common cross, or whether there are others to be seen?
Cheers,
Andy
Seriously thinking about trying harder!
If you can track down a copy of The Waterfowl of the World Vol 4, by Jean Delacour (illustrated by Peter Scott)
ISBN 0600434648
It has some great information on the history of domesticated waterfowl and illustrates some of the breeds that are commonly kept in the UK. Many of which share similarities to the ones you describe, the white chest is a very common trait of domestic mallards.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
You might also want to take a look at the very helpful 'Manky Mallards' webpage which illustrates some of the domestic breeds you might find on your local park lake - http://10000birds.com/manky-mallards-domestic-feral-or-just-plain-odd-mallards.htm - scroll down - there are loads of them! Selective breeding of domestic Mallards over the years has produced a wide variety of shapes, sizes and plumage patterns, and the vast majority of the odd-looking Mallards around don't have any non-Mallard blood at all.
Mallard x Pintail hybrids do occur in the wild occasionally and the males are usually quite lovely-looking birds - here's an example: http://www.bobsteelephoto.com/Images/Species_Images/mall_nopi/mall_nopi_D4213.jpg
My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/
My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/
Thanks Ian and aiki for your interesting and useful replies.
From the data available, it looks certain that the mallards which I thought might be crosses are actually feral mallards.
You learn something every day!
Hi Andy
I have opened up a Thread on my local wildfowl at Bedford today, and it shows there are the odd mixed breeding ducks on my local lake at Bedford. I have taken a few pictures if you are interested in having a look.
In the duck world they seen not to stick to the same species and that is how there is a mix and match of colouration going on everywhere you look.
I have Pochard x Mallard mix at my local lake and it is the female Pochards that are the ones who end up with the Male Mallards.
Regards
Kathy and Dave
Hi Bb
I would certainly be interested in seeing a few photos - especially the pochard/mallard cross!