Weird wild duckling

[desertdarlene]

OK, this was really hard because I had to look through a lot of young ducks, but I think I got the right Trouble in this photo. I am sure because he still has a fuzzy butt and when he sleeps, he curls up into a tiny little ball, much smaller than the other ducks.



He still doesn't have his drake feathers, yet.

Here is the bottom of his fuzzy butt where he still has baby feathers.:



It's getting really hard to distinguish him from the other young drakes now.

I was really worried because I couldn't find him and found the remains of a small drake and large hen up near the walking path. But, it wasn't him.

 

[Miss Lydia]

OK, this was really hard because I had to look through a lot of young ducks, but I think I got the right Trouble in this photo. I am sure because he still has a fuzzy butt and when he sleeps, he curls up into a tiny little ball, much smaller than the other ducks.



He still doesn't have his drake feathers, yet.

Here is the bottom of his fuzzy butt where he still has baby feathers.:



It's getting really hard to distinguish him from the other young drakes now.

I was really worried because I couldn't find him and found the remains of a small drake and large hen up near the walking path. But, it wasn't him.

He sure is pretty, taking his own sweet time about growing up eh? glad it was him you saw.

 

[desertdarlene]

I think he's about six months old now, but he's at least three or four weeks behind in development.

 

[desertdarlene]

OK, now I'm in trouble. I saw him with a bunch of young drake-lets all in various stages of getting their green heads and drake colors. Only way I could tell him apart was his super long wings that almost go to his tail and his notched white tail. It was too dark to get a photo. He's still noticeably smaller than the other drake-lets.

 

[desertdarlene]

OK, this may be one of the last updates I can do with Trouble, not because something happened or is happening to him, but because I'm having a hard time figuring out which is him. Here are three candidates:

This one has long wings and a short body like Trouble, but is too big and bulky:




This one has the right size, coloration and configuration, but the wings are a little short. Also, he has a very dark bill and there was one duck who was released by the wildlife rescue that was actually younger than Trouble with a dark bill.




The best candidate:

This little guy still peeps like a duckling and is following the gadwalls around, especially one that looks like to be Gaddy in his non-breeding colors or an extra pretty female gadwall. This little guy is interested in females and mating now and was astutely watching a mating pair. However, something might be wrong with his hyoid bone. His tongue is hanging out at little below the bottom of the bill. It's nothing serious, but I don't like it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

OK, this may be one of the last updates I can do with Trouble, not because something happened or is happening to him, but because I'm having a hard time figuring out which is him. Here are three candidates:

This one has long wings and a short body like Trouble, but is too big and bulky:




This one has the right size, coloration and configuration, but the wings are a little short. Also, he has a very dark bill and there was one duck who was released by the wildlife rescue that was actually younger than Trouble with a dark bill.




The best candidate:

This little guy still peeps like a duckling and is following the gadwalls around, especially one that looks like to be Gaddy in his non-breeding colors or an extra pretty female gadwall. This little guy is interested in females and mating now and was astutely watching a mating pair. However, something might be wrong with his hyoid bone. His tongue is hanging out at little below the bottom of the bill. It's nothing serious, but I don't like it.

Had you ever seen Trouble with his tongue out like the last duck? I hope this lil one will be okay.

 

[desertdarlene]

No, but something like that can happen at any time. It's very small right now and can't be seen except when you photograph at certain angles. I was hoping it was just something hanging on the bottom of his bill, but it looks like his tongue. Doodle the wood duck had his whole tongue hanging out for at least a year or two, so it's not a major problem. I'm hoping that he won't play with the "hole" and it will heal up. He's able to eat, drink and peep just fine.

 

[Miss Lydia]

No, but something like that can happen at any time. It's very small right now and can't be seen except when you photograph at certain angles. I was hoping it was just something hanging on the bottom of his bill, but it looks like his tongue. Doodle the wood duck had his whole tongue hanging out for at least a year or two, so it's not a major problem. I'm hoping that he won't play with the "hole" and it will heal up. He's able to eat, drink and peep just fine.

That's reassuring we've all grown quite attached to Trouble. lol

 

[desertdarlene]

I can only see it on one side, but it looks like it's hanging from the bottom, but it's too blurry around the bill in the photo. So, maybe it's just something hanging out of his mouth like algae.

I actually do think this is our little Troublemaker, he just fits all the characteristics with the square head and long bill.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can only see it on one side, but it looks like it's hanging from the bottom, but it's too blurry around the bill in the photo. So, maybe it's just something hanging out of his mouth like algae.

I actually do think this is our little Troublemaker, he just fits all the characteristics with the square head and long bill.

It does look like the other pics you have posted.