Why is duckling all blackish brown?

[Jordan97]

Why is my full bred mallard duckling all a blackish brown color, and not the standard yellow and brown?

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Maybe it's not a mallard or pure mallard

post a pic if you can.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Sounds to me like the Recessive Wild Black Gene and perhaps your ducks are not as "pure" as you thought. Regardless, I have had wonderful mixed breed ducks that have out laid full breeds.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/410593/understanding-basic-colour-genetics-mallards-derivitives

 

[Jordan97]

The adult pair both have the little back toe clipped and are the exact same color and size of a mallard.