Pictures Weird looking Mallard

BoB_25 · 01-03-2009, 03:44 PM

Went out and shot some ducks this morning with friends and ended up shooting a Mallard that looks like he crossed with a Widgeon. But after closer look, he's a really young drake.

BoB_25 · 01-03-2009, 03:56 PM

Here's a pic of a Mallard Widgeon mix

BoB_25 · 01-03-2009, 03:57 PM

Hybrid Mallards

cougarw · 01-03-2009, 04:01 PM

Cool duck either way.

BPbowhunter · 01-03-2009, 04:40 PM

I could see a little widgeon in there, not much but those specks toward the bottom of the head look an awful lot like widgeon.

John · 01-03-2009, 04:54 PM

I wonder what's up with that orange bill though.

BPbowhunter · 01-03-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

I wonder what's up with that orange bill though.

I was wondering the same. It's got all the characteristics of a drake mallard in the body, then in the head it has a mix of widgeon and mallard drake, but the bill is all hen mallard.

Weird duck.

Alex T. · 01-03-2009, 05:21 PM

I'd say the bill was gonna turn yellow,the head woulda turned green but someone decided to slaughter the little guy before he had a chance.

Ya big meanie.

Alex

John · 01-03-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex T.

I'd say the bill was gonna turn yellow
Alex

I'll admit I don't know a whole lot

, but even the drakes we shot in Oct. had yellow bills with just little specks of green in the head. I would say it could be a shemale but,

Alex T. · 01-03-2009, 05:51 PM

I really don't know either...I was just trying to make him feel lower than dirt.

Alex

BoB_25 · 01-03-2009, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex T.

I really don't know either...I was just trying to make him feel lower than dirt.

Alex

I don't think it was me you better talk to a guy that's name starts with a P!

marshmadness · 01-03-2009, 10:40 PM

Good chance you got a hermie there...cool bird.

Patrick Olson · 01-04-2009, 04:12 PM

It is probably 100% hen mallard, but you would have to check to vent to make sure. It has no hybrid in it, speculum is the dead giveaway.

Hens will express drake plumage when female hormones like progesterone and estrogen are overruled by basal expression of the dominant male hormone testosterone.

It is basically a hen that has messed up hormones. We usually shoot a few each year.

The beak and feet (soft skin) are the least sensitive to hormonal regulation. Which is why we still see the hen beak and it has not changed (and why, as John pointed out, they do not fluctuated during independent hormonal regulation that causes molting, and why it is the way to ID eclipse drake mallards). It is why the beak is one of the most important characteristics used for identification. If you would have compared the beak length of the hen to a drake you would have found that the hen had a slightly smaller beak.

Another side point, everyone refers to drakes with crappy plumage late in the year as young drakes. While that is true to an extent with the very late hatches, it is more than likely because of genetic reasons rather than the drake simply being too young. The regulation of plumage is highly variable, not just because the bird is young. I.e. crappy plumage is just because of inferior genetics and not because the bird is simply young.

PO

BoB_25 · 01-04-2009, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Olson

It is basically a hen that has messed up hormones. We usually shoot a few each year.PO

PO, do you have pictures of the one you shot?

01-03-2009, 03:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
BoB_25 BoB_25 has no status. Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellevue NE Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 2,378 Thanks: 112 Thanked 67 Times in 57 Posts	Weird looking Mallard Went out and shot some ducks this morning with friends and ended up shooting a Mallard that looks like he crossed with a Widgeon. But after closer look, he's a really young drake.

01-03-2009, 04:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
BPbowhunter BPbowhunter is at full draw 2007 NEFGA Outdoorsman Of The Year Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Broken Bow Posts: 3,289 Thanks: 23 Thanked 244 Times in 172 Posts	I could see a little widgeon in there, not much but those specks toward the bottom of the head look an awful lot like widgeon. __________________ Is it duck season yet? Whackin' Woodies Waterfowl Crew "Look, a pair of singles!"

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01-03-2009, 03:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
BoB_25 BoB_25 has no status. Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellevue NE Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 2,378 Thanks: 112 Thanked 67 Times in 57 Posts	Here's a pic of a Mallard Widgeon mix

01-03-2009, 03:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
BoB_25 BoB_25 has no status. Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bellevue NE Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 2,378 Thanks: 112 Thanked 67 Times in 57 Posts	Hybrid Mallards

01-03-2009, 04:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
cougarw cougarw is waiting for hunting season Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the wild Posts: 1,984 Thanks: 101 Thanked 130 Times in 86 Posts	Cool duck either way.

01-03-2009, 04:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
John John is in the layout boats until freeze-up Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Omaha Posts: 252 Thanks: 15 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts	I wonder what's up with that orange bill though.

01-03-2009, 05:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
Alex T. Alex T. has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: under the doors of a laydown blind Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 4,792 Thanks: 0 Thanked 407 Times in 276 Posts	I'd say the bill was gonna turn yellow,the head woulda turned green but someone decided to slaughter the little guy before he had a chance. Ya big meanie. Alex

01-03-2009, 05:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
Alex T. Alex T. has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: under the doors of a laydown blind Certified Youth Fishing Instructor Posts: 4,792 Thanks: 0 Thanked 407 Times in 276 Posts	I really don't know either...I was just trying to make him feel lower than dirt. Alex

01-03-2009, 10:40 PM	#12 (permalink)
marshmadness marshmadness has no status. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lincoln Posts: 54 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Good chance you got a hermie there...cool bird.

01-04-2009, 04:12 PM	#13 (permalink)
Patrick Olson Patrick Olson has no status. Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Omaha/Lincoln Posts: 413 Thanks: 6 Thanked 110 Times in 40 Posts	It is probably 100% hen mallard, but you would have to check to vent to make sure. It has no hybrid in it, speculum is the dead giveaway. Hens will express drake plumage when female hormones like progesterone and estrogen are overruled by basal expression of the dominant male hormone testosterone. It is basically a hen that has messed up hormones. We usually shoot a few each year. The beak and feet (soft skin) are the least sensitive to hormonal regulation. Which is why we still see the hen beak and it has not changed (and why, as John pointed out, they do not fluctuated during independent hormonal regulation that causes molting, and why it is the way to ID eclipse drake mallards). It is why the beak is one of the most important characteristics used for identification. If you would have compared the beak length of the hen to a drake you would have found that the hen had a slightly smaller beak. Another side point, everyone refers to drakes with crappy plumage late in the year as young drakes. While that is true to an extent with the very late hatches, it is more than likely because of genetic reasons rather than the drake simply being too young. The regulation of plumage is highly variable, not just because the bird is young. I.e. crappy plumage is just because of inferior genetics and not because the bird is simply young. PO