Weird wood duck

[desertdarlene]

I went out to the lake and there's this adorable juvenile wood duck out there that is really friendly towards me. Today, I noticed something weird about him. First, something was hanging off his mouth. So, I checked him out and took some photos and it looks like his tongue is hanging from the outside of her mouth. At first, I thought maybe he was missing the bottom part of his bill, but he was drinking and grooming just fine without a problem. And, when I looked at his photos, I saw a top and bottom bill, but the tongue was either hanging out the side or through a hole in the bottom of his bill.

Anyone see anything like this? I think he is about two months old, but it could also be an adult going through a molt. Or, it could be a hybrid.

 

[animalpro24]

Looks like an old beat up guy with a tumor on the bottom of his bill.

 

[desertdarlene]

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Yeah, I think it's a boy, too, especially with the white chin. But, I think I saw him move that thing when he groomed.

 

[animalpro24]

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Yeah, I think it's a boy, too, especially with the white chin. But, I think I saw him move that thing when he groomed.

How weird!

 

[annageckos]

I've seen a photo like that before, but I can't remember what it was. Parasite maybe.... I don't remember where I saw it

This is going to drive me nuts now.

 

[Speceider]

Years ago we captured a drake northern pintail in a rocket net that had his tongue out the side of his bill like that. Every time we would put it back in correctly, it' return to that position. Believe it' a broken hyoid bone.

Clint

 

[Blob Chicken]

Its a male.

He's also in super rough shape.

It looks like the membrane under his bill is ripped ,letting his tonge hang out.

For his best interests ,please try catching him and sending him to a wildlife rehab center.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

that's was going to be my guess too Clint.
Most likely a hunting injury or something similar damaged the lower bill and or bone there.

He is a very old looking boy, not a juvenile by no means, mainly looks ruff because he's going there his summer molt is all. If he's eating a drinking fine, not much more that can be done for him.
Looks fat, no breast bones showing....my guess is without a net it's be impossible to catch him. And at this point in his life, a rehab center would just knock him in the head as soon as you left, this is one that will be just best left where he's at

 

[desertdarlene]

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I agree, I think if he's eating, drinking and grooming fine and otherwise happy, there's no reason why I should do anything about him except let him live out his days.

We don't allow hunting anywhere within 40 miles of this lake and I think he may have been there most of his life. Yes, he is going through his molt, that's for sure.

 

[desertdarlene]

I was wondering, are his chances of choking higher?

I have some pictures of him that I took about a week ago, but his head was tucked in. If he's the male I always see around this spot, he didn't have it during breeding season.