When I grow up...........

2dogs2000 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-07-2011, 10:55 PM

Saw these last week and went back today to have another look.

Wonder what he/she will look like when fully grown?

Here are the parents.

Strange that the other mallards have very young ducklings whereas this one seems older. Also he/she is the only duckling in this family.

bobbarber · #2 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2dogs2000

Strange that the other mallards have very young ducklings whereas this one seems older. Also he/she is the only duckling in this family.

Well you would only want one if they all looked like that

...Bob

htcdude · #3 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 07:13 AM

No exactly the prettiest family in the world is it?

Nige

Jackaroo · #4 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 09:14 AM

Beauty is in the of the beholder don't you know? It'll probably grow up to be a real "quacker"

2dogs2000 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-07-2011, 06:04 PM

I don't know about him growing up to be a real "quacker" (Jackaroo) as mum has a funny quack.

The family group tend to stay well away from all the other Mallards and I did see a greylag chase them.

2dogs2000 · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2011, 09:49 PM

Well six weeks later and the duckling is almost fully grown. I hadn't seen it for a few weeks and thought it had come to a sticky end but this family group seem to keep a low profile.

Any ideas on whether it is male or female?

Dogghound · #7 (**permalink**) 02-09-2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2dogs2000

Any ideas on whether it is male or female?

Its not that easy on the basis that we dont know how much of a pure Mallard it is. It could have other ancestry which would make it show mixed features of different sexes. However if you catch it you can tell by the cloaca (having a penis or not). If I had to say from this photo, I would suggest its a male.