What's Your Thought on the Colors of this Mallard Drake

[Larry Eckart]

Dear Guys and Dani,
A buddy shot this brace of Blacks and one drake mallard. The coloration of the mallard seems odd. What are your thoughts? Immature or mixed breed or other? He also said that the mallard was significantly larger than the drake black duck.

Yes, I am jealous about his beautiful brace of black ducks, few things finer, for sure!

Larry

 

[Carl]

I think he might have a little pintail in the genes.

 

[William Reinicke]

What part of the country? If east coast, likely one of them mix with released farm birds. But I bet a farm/wild mallard cross if anything.

 

[Larry Eckart]

What part of the country? If east coast, likely one of them mix with released farm birds. But I bet a farm/wild mallard cross if anything.

New York State, Bill.

 

[William Reinicke]

New York State, Bill.

Yup that makes sense. One of them failed attempt birds to increase population of mallard on east coast.