Could Frances be a Francis?

[Tia Z.]

My "female" mallard, Frances looks like a female but she's now about 3 months old and is still not quacking. Her "quacks" are still raspy and she's past the peeping stage. Could it be that's she's a he and I should change her name to Francis? If she were a male when would her head turn green?

Silly Frances

 

[Sweetfolly]

If "she's" three months old, raspy, and you haven't heard a single quack, then "she's" a he. Change that name to Francis.

Yep - he'll molt into nuptial plumage and get the green head eventually. Then, he'll molt back into "eclipse" and look like a girl for a few months every summer.

 

[Tia Z.]

Oh wow, good to know! Ducks are so much more complicated than chickens!