Boy or Girl Mallard?

[ksmith]

I asked for two females at the feed store, but i think I might have a male and a female. The one that I think is a male has a sort of yellowed beak, but the same coloring of the feathers as the other one. Also, the one I think is a male is starting to quack. They are 4 weeks old. I would post a picture, but my internet is sooo slow! thank you!

 

[MissusDee]

You really can't tell by colors at 4 weeks, even though males tend to get yellow bills, that really doesn't happen until much later. If the one you think is male is quacking, it's a female. Males have more of a hissy, raspy sound than a quack. Though it's possible if someone sexed them by vent sexing that they missed a male, if it's quacking it's probably a girl.

 

[MissusDee]

Here is a site that if you play, you can hear both females and males. The louder quacker one is a female, the raspy long hoarse sounding ones are males. http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=27

 

[SassyKat6181]

I bought 4 mallards at TSC and turns out there are 3 males and 1 female. The female quacked early and the males are more raspy sounding. Also, if you look at their heads in the light you may notice a green sheen on the males head.

Here's a picture of mine at 5 weeks.

 

[ksmith]

Quote:
oh yes, I can tell that the last 3 have a green tint to their head. I think my mallards are closer to 5 weeks old (But I have had them for 4 weeks), because they look exactly like yours. Very cute duckies!