Sexing mallard ducklings using wing plumage

[FireTigeris]

I had one set that the 'color patch' (in english) was purple for females and teal for males under sunlight.

 

[Speceider]

The speculum is a structural color so that will not be consistent...alot of things can affect structural colors. Sexing by wing plumage can be done as soon as the tertial coverts start growing.

Clint

 

[dumb_cluck]

I had mallards, and the ONLY way I could tell sex was when they were about 3 months old.
Up till then they all look like females. Keep a watch on the top of the heads. The males will start to show a greenish tint (in the sunlight) when they are young. After that look for the white ring around the neck to appear.

Hopefully the English is appropriate

 

[shortgrass]

hmm.. is there one on ducklings? Not immature ducks but ducklings??

Old thread, but a big tip on sexing mallards before feathers... Look at their bills... Females will have a tinge if pink where the bill meets the face... Males don't. This has been 100% accurate in telling sex of our mallards from hatch... Going back to 1979 lol