Saturday, December 5, 2015

Mallard Hybrid

Hybrid?

This different-looking duck hangs out with mallards and likely thinks he's one of them. But he's bigger and more colourful, so I suspect he's a hybrid.

Apparently mallards are "flooding the gene pool" of quite a few other duck varieties, but I have no idea what the other parent of this duck is. Any ideas?

I am linking to  Saturday Critters HERE.

40 comments:

Andy said...

From a mixed marriage, eh. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tom said...

Colorful guy!

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Lindo e bela fotografia.
Um abraço e bom fim de semana.

eileeninmd said...

Oh wow, he is a colorful Mallard hybrid. Lovely shot. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy weekend!

Anvilcloud said...

The result of a wild night of partying.

Phil Slade said...

I'm afraid that many ducks and mallards can be somewhat promiscuous but I wouldn't like to guess this ones parenthood.

MadSnapper said...

his colors are so beautiful he looks fake.. never seen anything like this one.. looks like he belongs in the tropics

Indrani said...

Very colorful! What a capture!

Revrunner said...

Kind of looks like a cross between a mallard and a goose.

Natasha said...

Lovely plumage - the colours are so pretty! I'm not too sure what other breed it could be, my duck knowledge isn't as strong as on some other bird species! - Tasha

VP said...

I didn't even know this was possible...

Lea said...

Have you heard the expression, He's an odd duck." Well, there's his photo!
Have a great week-end!
Lea

Lowell said...

Very funny and very cute and I hope this guy can make it with the mallards.

Shammickite said...

I didn't know mixed marriages were possible with ducks....

Marleen said...

His colours make him look a bit exotic.

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

My thought was the same as Revrunner's if that is possible.

Jack said...

Now, isn't that an odd one!

Linda W. said...

What a pretty duck!

Lois said...

I have no idea, but that duck is beautiful!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

qvack

all about evolving the species

Sylvia K said...

I don't have an idea either, but he is SO colorful and beautiful!! I'm so glad you got a great pic and, as always, shared it with us!! Your captures are always a wonderful way to start my day, EG!! Thank you!! I hope you have a lovely weekend!!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Sorry EG, I'm no help in the 'gene pool' mystery :) Whatever the cross is it resulted in stunning colouration of the feathers here, the mix of aqua and deeper blue is too gorgeous!

Rajesh said...

Beautiful bird.

Magia da Inês said...

✿ه° ·.
É lindo, basta observar a iridescência de cores das penas!...

Ótimo fim de semana com tudo de bom!
Beijinhos.
❤ه°˚ ·.

Stacy said...

He is a pretty bird but I wouldn't have guessed he is a hybrid. If you look at bird books that are twenty years old compared to ones now, there are a few birds that have hybridized over the years, like the red-naped sapsucker. Makes it a little tricky to id these guys. Have a great day!

Jo said...

I'd say he has part goose in his genes. Perhaps Egyptian Goose. Just a stab at his parentage, LOL. Thanks for sharing this interesting bird. Greetings, Jo

cieldequimper said...

Gorgeous. Is that ice I spy?

Unknown said...

Interesting. He's colourful.

William Kendall said...

Strange but colourful.

TexWisGirl said...

what a beauty! that peacockian coloration is sure unique for a duck!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

How pretty! I'm glad they haven't run him off!

Amy at love made my home said...

Very unusual indeed!

Rose said...

I don't have any idea other than what a beauty! I wouldn't mind seeing a few more.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Frankenmallard!
`

Kay said...

Now that's one I haven't seen before! With all those amazing colors I'd half expect a peacock mixed in there somewhere.

Linda said...

Great capture! I know that a female cat can give birth to kittens and the kittens can be from different fathers, so there could be two or three fathers per litter. Perhaps the same can be said of ducks? I love the colours.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

If he is bigger than a normal Mallard he may have mated with a goose but he is mainly Mallard

Stephanie said...

He is actually a beautiful looking bird despite of being different in size and coloring.

NatureFootstep said...

I´m as confused as you. He looks really weird for a duck :)

Anonymous said...

I have not idea, but the results are gorgeous!

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.