White duck ID please

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by cherrybee

The mallard duck doesnt appear to be fussy in there breeding.Mallards frequently interbreed with their closest relatives.I have often seen lots of variations of a mallard.You can normally tell if it is a mallard cross if you look at the tail end.It has curly black uppertail feathers

The curly tail feathers tip will only be applicable if the bird is a male!

[Bunster]

This is one of my male white mallards from last year.
I hope it is of some use as it has taken me about an hour to work out how to post a picture on here!!

[Blackbrook Eye]

Now that you know how to post pictures, why not keep them coming, pictures are worth more than words, especially if you are a bit slow like me.

[Run rabbit]

Yes thanks for the picture Bunster - thats exactly the kind of white duck I meant.

White Mallards - I hadn't realised that was possible.

How lovely to be able to rear ducklings

Cheers
Jo

[Emerger]

You have probably forgoten the question but...... I keep small, white ducks as garden pets. They are about malard sized and have yellow legs and beaks. They are called "Miniature White Call Ducks". Bred originally for the loud call from the female to attract wild birds to the gun. But I guess that you know that by now.....

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by Run rabbit

Yes thanks for the picture Bunster - thats exactly the kind of white duck I meant.

White Mallards - I hadn't realised that was possible.

The breeds that have previously been mentioned (Aylesbury and Pekin) are white Mallards!

Both Aylesbury and Pekin are large breeds though, so yours (and the one in Bunsters photo) are of a smaller breed, perhaps White Campbell.
The easiest thing is just to call them white domestic Mallards, and not worry about the breed (there's a good chance that they won't be pure breeds anyway).


Edit: Didn't notice how old this thread was! Welcome to the site Emerger.

[redwyno1]

hi they are called pekin ducks imported into england in 1873 and have feet set back a little to give them a penguin type walk

Originally Posted by Run rabbit

Its probably a silly question but I can't find the answer in either of my bird books.

What are the white ducks with the orange beaks and feet called? They look just like mallards in shape and size and we see them with mallards on nearly every pond. For years I thought they were eider ducks but I think that was because I had white feathers in an eiderdown as a child

I have been trying to find out what they really are for years but no one you ask seems to know.

Can someone let me know please.

[redwyno1]

hi they are pekin ducks imported into uk in 1873 and have legs set back to give them a penguin typ0e walk

Originally Posted by Run rabbit

Its probably a silly question but I can't find the answer in either of my bird books.

What are the white ducks with the orange beaks and feet called? They look just like mallards in shape and size and we see them with mallards on nearly every pond. For years I thought they were eider ducks but I think that was because I had white feathers in an eiderdown as a child

I have been trying to find out what they really are for years but no one you ask seems to know.

Can someone let me know please.

[Crumble]

The white ducks seen with mallards are called 'mallards'

The mallard has a gene that masks all the feather colouring, making it appear white. It is, in every way, a normal mallard.

I raised 7 ducklings a few years ago and 3 were yellow, becoming white. We now have these at home, with the other 4 released back to their pond. One had a malformed bill, so we kept the whites together.

Pekin is a classic breed, first found in China since at least 2500BC. It is more upright and larger than a mallard.

Aylesbury is another classic, originating in Aylesbury in the 18th century. It is a large breed with pink bill and orange feet and was bred as a table bird.

As said, calls are smaller and were selectively bred for luring ducks to be shot.

All domestic breeds, apart from Muscovies originate from wild mallards.

I hope this clears up any confusion. We have a fair few ducks, but the white mallards are by far the naughtiest.