When can you tell mallards apart by their coloring?

[floyd242]

When can you tell mallards apart by their coloring? I have 2 that are about 8 weeks old and they are both looking like females. However, one of them is slightly lighter and has orange feet, and the other is slightly darker with darker feet. Also the darker one makes a harsh quack sound and the lighter one doesn't really quack, just a high pitched squeak kind of like she is whistling... sometimes she makes a little louder noise, but it's nothing like the darker one.

I think they're both females, but they are kind of different so I'm not sure.


Thanks!

-
Chris

 

[toadbriar]

It really sounds like you have a female and male. But I think I recall their color changing around 10-12 weeks old, and the drake feather won't come in until maybe 16 weeks or more.