Cloebird Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Taken at Wascana, Regina SK last week. Picture 1: female in front, male in back. What’s in the middle? Picture 2: same mallard in picture 1 middle. No drake curl tail. Picture 3: another mallard just different. What would you say for these? Male or female? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Humboldt Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 Bill color identifies these as definitely male. I assume the odd plumage indicates domestic ancestry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcoot Posted January 31, 2019 Share Posted January 31, 2019 I agree with von Humboldt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloebird Posted February 1, 2019 Author Share Posted February 1, 2019 I have read on other posts about domestic mallards. Never researched what that was. Thanks for the quick response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Friedman Posted February 1, 2019 Share Posted February 1, 2019 Can an "intersex" female be ruled out? This page shows a possible example that has a male-like bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloebird Posted February 1, 2019 Author Share Posted February 1, 2019 Hi Jerry. I had read that article but wasn't sure what to think. Was seeing both male and female characteristics on these mallards so thought I would post it here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Humboldt Posted February 2, 2019 Share Posted February 2, 2019 this could be a male (maybe first winter) that has hormone problems and is having an incomplete or abnormal molt and the bill is a "weak" yellow. That could explain both plumage and bill color. I believe the article defines intersex very broadly. I don't consider a hormonal issue causing plumage irregularities to be intersex. I have never known of females with damaged ovaries having a change of bill color. Regardless, the bird could easily be all wild mallard showing odd plumage due to abnormal hormones. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloebird Posted February 2, 2019 Author Share Posted February 2, 2019 (edited) I hope I can continue to observe these two as I'm only there occasionally and see what happens in the future. Probably impossible! We had been watching these ducks since last year because there was an interesting couple, a female mallard and a male wood duck. (Sorry, Not the same ducks) Edited February 2, 2019 by Cloebird Added a thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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