What is this?

[Amiga]

Pretty boy, then! I like Spot.

 

[dadsdeercamp]

Would it be ok to keep him with a female mallard and what would the babies be?

 

[AquaEyes]

I can't tell on gender, but it's a chocolate muscovy split to white, NOT a chocolate pied muscovy. It's possible the bird has the white-head gene, but birds that do don't get their full white heads until they are about 2 years old. I am noticing some white around the head, but this could also be the result of being split to white.

The bird below is a "real pied" muscovy. Notice that the white and colored portions are in a neat symmetrical pattern. "Real pied" is (I think...) a recessive trait. To show the trait, two copies of the "real pied" gene must be had.

The bird below is a "split to white" muscovy. Notice that the white feathers are non-symmetrical and random. Some birds have more white, some have less, than the one in this picture. White is an incomplete dominant trait. Birds with one copy of the white gene will have random white feathers. Birds with two copies will be all white.

If the bird is a drake and it breeds your Mallard-derived ducks, the offspring will be sterile and intermediate between the two species. The females won't be able to lay, but will grow to almost the same size as the males. These "mule ducks" or "moulards" are commonly bred for meat. If the bird is a duck and your Mallard-derived drakes breed her, the offspring will also be sterile and intermediate between the two species, but the females will be able to lay small infertile eggs, and they won't get as big as their brothers.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Duck, and she's a real beauty.