What kind of duck is this?

[Mamasaurusrex2]

Hello. I made a post a couple weeks ago about these ducks but here is the quick story for reference.

4+ weeks ago 5 little orphaned ducklings showed up in front of my house. My house backs up to a wildlife reserve/park so ducks and geese are everywhere. We had some duck food and fed them and they started coming to my door 4 times a day. They were about 4 weeks old. Eventually two of them got injured legs and we took those 2 to a bird rescue. The other 3 are doing well and growing. They stay mostly in the creek behind my house now and come when I whistle for them, even if they are a ways down the creek. They call out to me and eat from my hand yet they run away from other people. I have been very careful with making sure to feed them the right food etc and watch over them.

Anyway, here is my question. They are mallards, but there is one who has always been much bigger and darker than the others. It's feather development is the same but it's feathers are colored a bit differently and more rounded than pointed. The tail feathers especially are more black with tan edges while the other are brown with white.

These babies are getting their flight feathers now and getting so big, but this particular one is now bigger (taller and longer) than the adult mallards I see with their babies. My husband and I were thinking maybe this one is another kind of duck or perhaps half mallard half domestic? It's just so big! We do see some interesting breed mixes st the ponds in this park and there are some domestic ducks out there living with the wild ones. I wanted to ask what everyone here thought? Sorry if pics aren't clear enough, they are so wiggly. Lol

Also, I see much younger ducks diving in the creek and these never dive. Is that bad? Is that something their mother would have taught them?

 

[Mamasaurusrex2]

Sorry about a couple of those posting twice, not sure how I did that.

Judging by their voices I am pretty sure all three are female as they all have the standard female "quack", though this big one sounds a bit deeper, it doesn't sound like a male.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Rouens look almost exactly the same as mallards, but they (should) have a more defined second eye stripe than Mallards do, and they're larger.

 

[Mamasaurusrex2]

Maybe that's what this one is! She definitely has a more defined eye stripe.

 

[Orca5094]

The big one is a Rouen for sure.

 

[Mamasaurusrex2]

The big one is a Rouen for sure.

Awesome, thank you so much!! Can ducks have babies in one brood from multiple fathers? Or do you think this one just randomly ended up with the other two. I wish I could keep these babies, I love them so much, but I know it's illegal to take wild mallards. However if this one is a rouen I guess we could keep it lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes the Rouen is a domestic so you can give her a forever home, but she would really be happier if she had a couple girlfriends to hang out with at her new home.

 

[Mamasaurusrex2]

Yes the Rouen is a domestic so you can give her a forever home, but she would really be happier if she had a couple girlfriends to hang out with at her new home.

Oh yes, I read it's not good to keep just one duck. I wish I could keep all three but I am pretty sure the other 2 are mallards. She is very bonded with the other two girls and I'd hate to separate them, but I presume that as they get older they will part ways? Maybe then I can give her a home and get a friend for her too? I worry about her not being able to escape a predator if she can't fly as there are coyotes and such around here. Gosh I love these little ducks lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

1. Yep that's the problem and the Mallards could have been dumped out at the same time. Domestic mallards are sold at places like TSC. Happens a lot people buy cute little ducklings for their kids for Easter then they grow up and the kids lose interest next thing they are dumped very sad but happens a lot. If you can see the back of the Mallards foot the back toe will be docked or there will be a hole punch in the web.that will tell you if these 2 Mallards are domestic or wild.

 

[Mamasaurusrex2]

1. Yep that's the problem and the Mallards could have been dumped out at the same time. Domestic mallards are sold at places like TSC. Happens a lot people buy cute little ducklings for their kids for Easter then they grow up and the kids lose interest next thing they are dumped very sad but happens a lot. If you can see the back of the Mallards foot the back toe will be docked or there will be a hole punch in the web.that will tell you if these 2 Mallards are domestic or wild.

Thank you, I will try to look at their feet when I see them today. I hate that people do that, I know they do that with rabbits and dogs and anything really I guess. I think my older dog was dumped. We found her in the woods in an area commonly used for people to dump animals.