Why is one duckling a different color?

[Klong88]

Hello! Long time lurker here and finally got an account! I have Mallards and mama Erma hatched 9 ducklings, weird thing is one is totally black. Daddy Max has been the only other duck on our property and was just wondering if the black was a recessive trait or what?! I mean its the cutest little thing but just wondering how it turned out so different

Thanks!!

 

[Amiga]

Wow! I hope a genetics person checks in here soon.

 

[Amykins]

Nope, never seen that from a mallard. I've seen lighter/darker colored ones if the mama was blond or really deep brown, but they always have the telltale yellow and black face stripes. It's doubtful that came from a random mutation since mallards are a wild species thus breed VERY true. I'm gonna hazard a guess and suppose that you may have a mixed breed duck that carried a recessive trait? Either that or there was some kinda interloper. XD

Do you have a photo?

 

[Klong88]

Here are the parents and ducklings. The black one is the closest to Max, was hard to get a good picture without Erma throwing a fit, lol.

 

[Sfraker]

Max may need to get a lawyer!

I think Erma had a visitor.

 

[Eluria]

Although...I would like to throw out there that many of the breeds such as the WH and Khaki Campbell are mallard-derived. So, random mutations happen, and can be continued through selective breeding.

 

[Amykins]

Wow, he really IS inky black! I was expecting just really dark, but still visible face stripes. He's such a cutie! Please send more photos as he develops, I'd love to see the lil' guy when he fledges. <3

 

[Buck Oakes]

Yeah, black is actually a sex link gene in mallards. i have a black mallard hen and overtime she has a baby its black, and she mates with wild mallards and rouens. and plus females can have babies from multiple males, so every duckling could have a different dad, or one of your mallards grandparents or great grandparents was black

 

[Amykins]

Yeah, black is actually a sex link gene in mallards. i have a black mallard hen and overtime she has a baby its black, and she mates with wild mallards and rouens. and plus females can have babies from multiple males, so every duckling could have a different dad, or one of your mallards grandparents or great grandparents was black

I thought it was on the Y chromosome exclusively, though? I could totally be wrong on that. And even black babies still have faint markings, like a spot of yellow on the bib or bill. Also wouldn't we see more black babies if that were the case? I thought it clung to specific genders, like a white mama + normal dad = white drakes, and vice versa. There are multiple alleles for not only color but pattern, so this would have to affect at least two different gene sequences.

 

[Buck Oakes]

No it wouldn't have to be on all babies, each baby has it's own specific form of DNA , and that specific duckling got two recessive allels so also intresting fact about ducks the female carries the extra chromosome that decides gender