Why is one duckling a different color?

[Buck Oakes]

Amy you should right a book!!!!

 

[dotporter]

I saw a blond duck once. It was trying to eat a plastic flower. (ba-dum-tsh)

 

[chrisnjenny]

I saw a blond duck once. It was trying to eat a plastic flower. (ba-dum-tsh)

 

[dkkirby]

Max may need to get a lawyer!

I think Erma had a visitor.

 

[Jpat]

I wonder what the black duckling looks like now

 

[Neffy]

I do.....

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?

 

[Neffy]

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!!

Me too

 

[Neffy]

I do.....