Why is my one mallard duckling light brown?

[MRetriever]

Many are familiar with my 2 yellow (probably Pekin) Ducklings because the one is (still) battling health issues

But I also have 4 little mallards.

One mallard is like a tan color? Other others look normal really dark brown. They all have the docked toe so I assume they are indeed mallards... although I really have no idea as I did not buy them from a hatchery.

 

[Pyxis]

That's interesting. It looks chocolate. Perhaps a cross with a chocolate colored breed; did the breeder keep ducks aside from mallards?

 

[MRetriever]

That's interesting. It looks chocolate. Perhaps a cross with a chocolate colored breed; did the breeder keep ducks aside from mallards?

They came from Hoover I believe. And I got them from an assorted shipment/bin .

 

[Miss Lydia]

What do Snowy look like when ducklings? And how is you little Pekin?

 

[Miss Lydia]

What do you think @Table4Six

 

[Table4Six]

Its color is definitely not snowy. Snowy mallards resemble snowy call ducklings when babies. I would guess you just have a mallard with strange color variation. It happens. Beautiful babies.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay well you got me but it sure is pretty and unusual.

 

[Table4Six]

Okay well you got me but it sure is pretty and unusual.

It’s got me stumped too. This isn’t the best picture because of the lighting, but the light ones were my snowys as babies.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Cute little things. You say were?

 

[Table4Six]

Cute little things. You say were?

The light ones are snowy mallards.