One odd duck

[Sawbuck]

Shot these two last month during the snow, looked like two drakes flying in so I shot them both. I figure either the big guy is batting for the other team or he likes his girls pretty butch. Have you guys seen this before? Drake head and wings, hen body and tail. I got a hen last year that had some green blended in on her head, but nothing like this. Is it very common?

[bobcat]

I'm not so sure that's a mallard. Are you sure it's not a cross between a mallard and something else, like a shoveler?

[Hillbilly270]

did you mount that thing?  thats wierd. i've never seen anything like it.

[pjb3]

Very unique, looks like a mallard drake hen

[Sawbuck]

I'm not so sure that's a mallard. Are you sure it's not a cross between a mallard and something else, like a shoveler?

I was wondering the same thing, but it had a mallard bill, and the head was green. I think its one mixed up Mallard.

[weathergirl]

It could be in the midst of molting to his breeding plumage.  The photo shown on this link looks very similar:

http://www.deltawaterfowl.org/research/AAB/031-hybrid.php

[h2ofowlr]

I shot one similar to the one weathergirl posted a few years back.  We also got a few early in the season that looked like the one above.  Just in the midst of molting as mentioned.

[pjb3]

I kinda was kiddin', it is a molting drake

[washelkhntr]

Maybe it's one of them ducks that can't decide on their sexual gender. You know, like Rue Paul.   

[h2ofowlr]

We are close to Seattle, so that might explain why there are so many around. 

[ICEMAN]

Any chance you shot that out near Hanford?

[Sawbuck]

Any chance you shot that out near Hanford?

No, Canada, I wonder whats going on up there?
Thanks for the info weathergirl, I have never heard of that before.

[Skyhigh]

It could be a he-she.....I have heard that at times when birds get older they take on testosterone or lose it....which can mess with their plummage coloration..

Here is an all female where it counts but obvious something is going on with the plummage...I call her a she-he........also this picture was taken in February.......I got to meet her again this past October and she was in very similiar plummage

[Hillbilly270]

u sure thats a female?  I see a curl and the beak has black.  not that you didn't check

[h2ofowlr]

My bet is skyhigh is right on this one.
I didn't check the junk on mine to confirm.