2 dead ducks

[flapjackfarm]

Last Friday, I lost my Rouen to a predator. She was found underneath a play structure on our property, decapitated, and chunks of feathers pulled out.
This morning, I found a wild female mallard floating in our pond. She was about 2-3 ft off shore. She, too, was decapitated (I could see her head in the water directly under her body) and had chunks of feathers floating near her.
I've been told that it could possibly be an owl killing the ducks, but I'm not sure. I do have a picture of the duck I found today. It's graphic, so I won't post unless someone wants to try and determine what caused it.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
I'm considering setting up our trail camera, but I found the ducks about a 300 ft away from each other and I'm not sure if it would be helpful.

 

[aart]

Did it happen at night or during the day?

 

[flapjackfarm]

I think possibly early morning. There's been a large hawk flying in and hanging around our chicken coop. I think he may have done it.

Sorry for the poor picture. The hawk is on top of the coop in the picture. I didn't want to get too close!

 

[aart]

So what ever killed it got it out of the coop/run?
Or was the duck free ranging when they got killed?

 

[indicaLethal]

I think possibly early morning. There's been a large hawk flying in and hanging around our chicken coop. I think he may have done it.

Sorry for the poor picture. The hawk is on top of the coop in the picture. I didn't want to get too close!

I had a Pekin duck killed the same way, head and neck completely missing and the body left. It was most definitely an owl because it left a few large wing feathers.