What's this huge duck

[sarahjayne]

Does anyone know what this very large duck is? These ducks were as big as geese (with shorter legs), chocolate brown and had very thick necks

[tcvarlh]

Where did you shoot the foto? A location (rough) might help.

I thought at very first glance (without me specs on) they were Brants but the beak is all wrong and leg colour is also off. So I'm a bit stumped.
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[werdnal]

Looks like some sort of "domestic gone wild feral cross thingies" to me

[tcvarlh]

yep I think you may be right, but the fun bit is trying to work out what Momma and Poppa were
h

[sarahjayne]

Thank you for replying. What ever the parent ducks were, one was really big. the photo was taken in the south Cotswolds.

[aeshna5]

Domestic type Mallard. Yours was the third post yesterday that featured a domestic type Mallard, though they are so variable + thus confusing for many.

[tcvarlh]

Don't see a Mallard Flash on either. Every Mallard X I've ever seen had one.

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[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by tcvarlh

Don't see a Mallard Flash on either. Every Mallard X I've ever seen had one.

h

Many don't have the speculum if that's what you mean, eg white call ducks or Aylesbury.

[RoyW]

These look like Mallard x Muscovy Duck hybrids to me (sometimes called "Mule Ducks"). Because domestic breeds of the two parent species can be extremely variable, there is also considerable variation in this cross.

[tcvarlh]

Yes, the speculum feathers aka flash aka badge aka wing-bar aka shimmer aka patch aka colour aka mirror which is obviously a literal translation from Latin.

Aylesbury's and Whites also have a mirror which is white and therefore difficult to notice.

The feathers themselves appear to be 'in-flight' positioning aids, easily noticeable from bird to bird and assisting in keeping pattern.

Very possibly Mules I feel you have it correct RoyW.
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