Mallard drakes

[Miss Ducky]

How old are they when mallard drakes begin to display the drake coloring? Thanks!

 

[happyhens44]

Mine started showing when his male feathers once his duckling fuzz left I saw alittle green feathers on his head ( I knew he was male by then) and they 2 months later most where in.

 

[happyhens44]

By the way the pic in my avatar is my male mallard when his green head feathers started comming in. Thats where I first reconized he was a male,by the tiny bit of green on hs head when he was in the sun.

 

[desertdarlene]

I saw one rouen/mallard hybrid start to get a small dot of green on his head at 4 to 5 weeks. However, he really didn't get his full adult colors until he was 7 months, but he was at least half rouen and they take longer. Most of the mallards got their adult colors by about 5 months old.

 

[Miss Ducky]

Thank you! I was wondering because last year I had two juvenile(I believe) wild mallards, who both appeared to be female, join my flock, and then they flew south for the winter. Now two wild mallards have flown in again, but these two are a male and a female. I was wondering if they could be the same birds. It appears so! Welcome back Bonnie and Clyde!

 

[desertdarlene]

Also, the male mallards go through an "eclipse" phase where they look female. Usually, you can tell they're males by the yellow bill and their raspy quack.

 

[sourland]

Most will display their male or nuptual feathering after the fall molt.