Mallard Ducklings

[mikey4444]

I have been watching a newly-hatched family of 13 mallard ducklings, on the River Wye at Monmouth this last week.

Does anyone know why some are bright yellow, some are brown and mottled, and some are a mixture of yellow and brown ?

At what age do they start to show whether they are male or female, and isn't 13 quite a large clutch ?

[wolf63]

Maybe two different families of babies? They are really cute babies.

[wildwood]

13 is not unusual number of babies for ducks. The down colour is probably due to mixed breed variants. It is not unusual to see wild pure white ducks occasionally, probably another hidden gene from mixing with other breeds.

There are subtle feather differences at 8 weeks old between the sexes but then the familiar quack will soon identify the sex. The familiar colour of true purebreed Mallard males shouldn't appear until next Spring.

[mikey4444]

Wolfie....cute doesn't even begin to describe the sight on the riverbank yesterday !

Thanks Wildwood....I didn't realise that there would be so much variance in the colour of the ducklings......I presume that this variation won't be seen when they are adults, as all the adult mallards look very similar ! There wasn't any other breeds, other than mallards, to be seen along the river.

Can you explain more about the different quacks ? Is there a website that I can hear that on ?

[Tilly2]

Haven't they disappeared on a daily basis, Mikey? First there were 13, now there are 3, seems to happen on our local river.

[mikey4444]

There were still 13 there yesterday Tilly, although I expect that number will drop over the next few weeks.

Sad but nature, red in tooth and claw I suppose.

[Tilly2]

They are lovely to see. Bobbing along on the water.

[wildwood]

Here's a link to the mallard quacking.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/sounds

[mikey4444]

Once again, thanks Wildwood....most illuminating !

[jourdain2]

Thanks Wildwood and thanks also to mikey for asking the question. Today we saw our first ducklings on the village pond - we have counted 7 (2 yellow); but I am concerned about a duck who is sitting on a clutch about half a mile from the village pond. We pass her daily (and haul the dog away) but how will she go on, so far from water? I once kept ducks and they needed to duck their heads regularly in water. If I take a bucket of water on to near her then I will attract the foxes. Any ideas?

[Mamyalynne]

In truth there is little you can do - Mallards are quite silly and the ones outside my balcony have a large stretch of water and plenty cover too.

Yet year on year a couple decide to go walkabout to the Supermarket Car Park or across a nearby dual carriageway.

[elizabethsarah]

Female Mallards occasionally 'adopt' or 'babysit' for others I believe so you may have seen a mixed brood here from 2 different duckling mothers?