Transgender duck??

[Pollo Blanco]

There is "research" out there that says a drake looses it's penis each year and regrows a new one too.. but I have yet to find a duck dangle at the bottom of the swimming pool. Mine use their corkscrews year round.

Until I see duck that has proven female and laid eggs grow a corkscrew and become fertile, or a drake loose a corkscrew and start laying eggs I just cannot believe in the gender changing duck. Sorry.

Don't apologize

Believe whatever you want

A whale has more in common with a human

A snake has more in common with a duck

You spent the hour that you were supposed to be in biology smoking cigarettes behind the gym.

IDGAF if my wife's research contradicts your emotions

 

[shawluvsbirds]

You spent the hour that you were supposed to be in biology smoking cigarettes behind the gym

Too funny!

 

[shawluvsbirds]

IDGAF if my wife's research contradicts your emotions

I think this is turned way around. I have no emotions about a duck changing genders one way or the other. If I become convinced it can happen then alrighty then. I think other people do have emotions about it though and are desperate to prove it happens based on tiny amounts of evidence. I think that a lot of folks would like to believe that if this is something that occurs naturally in the animal kingdom, then that makes them feel like it's a more natural and normal occurrence across all species including humans.
I'm open to the possibility it could happen.. but I still think in the majority of these threads I see about trans birds it is nothing more than a case of mistaken gender or a hormone imbalance.

 

[duluthralphie]

Ducks have two ovaries but only one of them functions as an egg producer.

If the functioning ovary gets damaged, the duck will revert to male.

I have a duck that was either mis-sexed or reverted.

Really? You really believe this?


I better get to bed, I think tomorrow is Easter, and the Easter Bunny is coming. I need the eggs.

 

[FloorCandy]

I’m fascinated with this topic, I’d never heard of, or considered this. But a bit of research has provided some articles that claim many bird types can change gender if their ovary gets damaged and no longer works. Some people vaguely cite the research of Dr. Tim Birkhead, who, with a bit of googling, seems to be a respected source, however I can’t find any actual studies or papers he published about this topic. However, one article I read said that he discusses it in a chapter of a book he wrote titled “The Wisdom of Birds”. If anyone has this book I would be interested in finding out if this is true. I would also be interested in reading any published papers or articles by him or anyone else regarding this.

 

[shawluvsbirds]

many bird types can change gender if their ovary gets damaged and no longer works.

Back to my original comparison though..faulty as it may be. I realize humans and birds are different. But still.. how does a non functioning ovary in any species mean that the female actually has "become" a male?
Do they grow testis and produce sperm when the ovary stops working?

 

[FloorCandy]

Back to my original comparison though..faulty as it may be. I realize humans and birds are different. But still.. how does a non functioning ovary in any species mean that the female actually has "become" a male?
Do they grow testis and produce sperm when the ovary stops working?

According to an article I read that cited conversation with Tim Birkhead as the source, all ducks default gender is male, biologically, and the chromosome that makes them female causes the ovary to produce hormones and chemicals that tell the bird to be female, in rare cases the bird’s second unused ovary begins creating sperm, and causes the spontaneous growth of a penis, and it produces sperm and can father chicks. So yes they grow a penis and produce sperm. However it goes on to warn that the death of the ovary is often a sign of other underlying issues and the birds often pass from seemingly unrelated or unexpected illness. Here is the article that explains it best. However sources are vague, hence why I would like to find further info from this Tim Birkhead.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40016817

 

[shawluvsbirds]

According to an article I read that cited conversation with Tim Birkhead as the source, all ducks default gender is male, biologically, and the chromosome that makes them female causes the ovary to produce hormones and chemicals that tell the bird to be female, in rare cases the bird’s second unused ovary begins creating sperm, and causes the spontaneous growth of a penis, and it produces sperm and can father chicks. So yes they grow a penis and produce sperm. However it goes on to warn that the death of the ovary is often a sign of other underlying issues and the birds often pass from seemingly unrelated or unexpected illness. Here is the article that explains it best. However sources are vague, hence why I would like to find further info from this Tim Birkhead.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40016817

I believe I've read that before. That is actually best explanation for how it *could* occur if and when it has indeed ever happened.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I know certain fish turn the opposite sex when there is a lack of that sex in their environment (the most dominant clownfish becomes female [All are born male] and grouper females can turn male if there are none available to breed with), but I find it very hard to believe that birds are the same way. This sounds like it's just secondary traits changing because of hormones, not literally becoming a fertile specimen of the opposite sex

 

[chickentrains]

Animals don't really.. transition.

Its a human thing. If a human is born in the wrong body, they will transition to their real gender.

animals seemingly do it for biological/breeding purposes.