Duck ID/ancestry

[htcdude]

Me and actionfinch were out at Marsworth Res, Herts on Thursday and stumbled across this guy.

I'm guessing it's a domestic hybrid Mallard of some sort, but I've never seen one with these colourings. Anyone have an idea as to where it may have got them from?



Thanks,

Nige

[nightshade]

There are several really good (photo) Mallard Hybrid websites on the web, that will help

[Gill Catton]

what a beautiful duck!! definitely a domestic duck (mallard descent) have a look on feathersite.com and look at the duck section, it might be a recognised breed.

I wonder if it is a blue duclair

[actionfinch]

You know what nige i took him for granted when u snapped him... he does look smart in that color....
let us know if you find anything.

ps thanks for a good day ..

[diggleken]

wild guess, but with those markings, possibly a black duck or grey duck, they do cross with Mallard.
Anas superciliosa ssp's, black aus and grey duck NZ.
Cheers
Ken

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by diggleken

wild guess, but with those markings, possibly a black duck or grey duck, they do cross with Mallard.
Anas superciliosa ssp's, black aus and grey duck NZ.
Cheers
Ken

Don't think very likely in Herts, those hybrids tend to occur in Australia/NZ where Mallard was introduced.

Those southern ducks aren't common in collections as they aren't very glam.

I suspect just domestic Mallard type.

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

Don't think very likely in Herts, those hybrids tend to occur in Australia/NZ where Mallard was introduced.

Those southern ducks aren't common in collections as they aren't very glam.

I suspect just domestic Mallard type.

I know! All I could think of with that marking!
No Aussie stronghold down there in Herts, no barmen/women with a duck collection from home?
Its come from somewhere in the gene pool.............................
Cheers
Ken

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by diggleken

Its come from somewhere in the gene pool.............................

The combination of genes that produce this sort of Mallard colour are found in a number of different breeds.
The grey body colour is the result of the normal "wild colour" being modified by the presence of a single incopletely dominant "Blue dilution" gene, and the white bib comes from the presence of at least one dominant "bibbed" gene.

Colours similar to the bird in this thread can be seen in the 'Blue Swedish' breed and 'Blue' Call Ducks, some are darker, some paler, but all are basically grey, usually with darker heads. There is no indication that the genes that produce these colours came from other species rather than mutations of the normal Mallard genes.

[diggleken]

Thanks Roy, fair point!
Cheers
Ken

[htcdude]

Thanks all for your replies