Why does my mallard male look like a female?

[tatswell]

I thought for the first month he was a she until he started his raspy quack!
No tail curl or male coloring.
Is this unusual or semi-common?

 

[Bills vs Beaks]

Very common Hes just in his juvenile plumage now, soon he will molt that and turn into a normal lookin male mallard

 

[sourland]

He will molt into his nuptial or adult male plumage this autumn.

 

[tatswell]

Thanks! Interesting. Curious though, I raised his father and this didn't happen to him.
This is a first for me!

 

[sourland]

Thanks! Interesting. Curious though, I raised his father and this didn't happen to him.
This is a first for me!

Highly unusual. Mallard drakes have an eclipse (summer) and mating or nuptial more colorful (autumn/winter) plumage.

 

[chickens really]

They all go through a juvenile molt at around 4 months and get a tail curl...Eclipse at around a year old.....Raspy voice is a Drake....

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Highly unusual. Mallard drakes have an eclipse (summer) and mating or nuptial more colorful (autumn/winter) plumage.

X2.....
Which is how we ended up with a duck named Bonnie-bob