Speedbird Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Got 99% certainty on mottled duck, but range map shows it is a gulf coast non-migratory bird. These are in Coeur d ‘Alene, Idaho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeon Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Good chance they are domestic mallards, if you got that close to them and they were on a patio of some sort. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 I agree, it looks like a farm duck a.k.a. domestic Mallard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean C Posted August 3, 2019 Share Posted August 3, 2019 Agreed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedbird Posted August 3, 2019 Author Share Posted August 3, 2019 They were wild ducks that happened to find a restaurant patio near a pond and river. I asked the manager and they were just looking for easy pickings. The restaurant would rather they go someplace else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestranger Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 They may very well have been ducks living in the wild, @Speedbird, but they have domestic genes in them which makes them look different than true wild ducks. One escaped domestic duck can mate with a wild duck and the offspring would be considered domestic ducks, and their offspring's offspring would still have domestic genes and still be referred to as domestic ducks. What I'm getting at is, it's totally possible to have domestic ducks that are wild. It's the genes that make them domestic, not their place of residence. At least that's how I understand it, someone can correct me if I'm wrong. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
von Humboldt Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 Based on the shortness of the bill and appearance of the face, I believe its a juvenile domestic. Sounds like maybe the whole brood dined at that restaurant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted August 4, 2019 Share Posted August 4, 2019 (edited) 12 hours ago, Speedbird said: They were wild ducks that happened to find a restaurant patio near a pond and river. I asked the manager and they were just looking for easy pickings. The restaurant would rather they go someplace else. Properly marketed, they can be a draw. Fishy Fishy in Southport NC had a ramp from water level to the edge of the deck, probably originally for customers arriving by boat. Mallards would waddle up to a low pan of duck chow, pig out, and waddle down to the water again, quietly quacking, to the amusement of diners. Obviously they have to be kept well awy from food storage, preparation, staff, etc. Edited August 4, 2019 by Charlie Spencer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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