What Breed Are These Ducklings?

[Prince and Pavo]

Hello! I have four ducklings that I hatched, but I’m not sure what kind they are. They look similar to mallard ducklings, but I know that they aren’t mallards because they hatched from slightly elongated brownish-cream colored eggs. Compared to a standard brown chicken egg it looks a tiny bit olive-tinted, and about the same size. They also have bills that are slightly wider at the end. A couple of the ducklings are a dark brown, and the other two look a tiny bit more grayish. That may just be the fuzz that’s still coming off of them, but I don’t think it is. I’m thinking maybe a northern shoveler?

TIA for any suggestions!

 

[Corbdee]

Where are they coming from?

 

[Prince and Pavo]

I found them at a small pond near me, and I took them from a nest that the mom was not sitting on…
I live close to Phoenix, AZ.

 

[Corbdee]

I found them at a small pond near me, and I took them from a nest that the mom was not sitting on…
I live close to Phoenix, AZ.

I'm not great with wild ducks, but the first pic does look more like a mallard. If they were domestic I'd say the rest look like mallard mixes, but I don't think wild mallards mate with other wild breeds of duck. Is there a possibility of a domestic duck that was dumped there and now lives on the pond?

 

[Corbdee]

@Miss Lydia Do you know anything on wild duck breeds?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Not really just taking a guess and looking up shoveler ducklings that maybe the breed.

https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2014/07/21/northern-shoveler-duckling/

I'd advise a waterfowl rehabber so they can properly get these ducklings back in the wild when they are ready. That way they won't be dependent on you for their care and feeding.

 

[Prince and Pavo]

According to Cornell, the Northern Shoveler has
"Pale olive-buff to pale green-gray eggs.. Due to dirt or staining, eggs often become darker as incubation progresses."

That would be neat to have shovelers but, unfortunately,, what you did is illegal.
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/plants_wildlife/MBirdTreatyAct.aspx

You should either turn them in to an authorized rehabber or stop talking about them.

Uh oh! I didn’t know it was illegal… I could get a rehabber to care for them. Thanks for the tip!

And by the way, your description of shoveler eggs makes it sound like that’s what they are. Thanks again!

 

[Miss Lydia]

It’s okay don’t freak out. Just best to have an experienced rehabber raise them so they can be placed back in the wild when time.