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October 18, 2008
ROMANCE OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER
For the past few weeks, there’s been an interesting duck pairing on Lake Appert — a male Mallard and a female Wood Duck, who seem inseparable.
In addition, the female Wood Duck seems far less skittish around humans than your average Wood Duck.
I have had little success looking up smiliar pairings on-line.
Any thoughts?
3 comments
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Saw two mallards mating last week-in October?- We thought Mr. Mallard had drowned poor Mrs. Mallard. NOT.
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Thank you, John. That is a really interesting website. I had no idea that ducks were so free with the love!
-D -
Hi Jim,
Mallards (especially the males) are notorious for being “non-discriminatory” when it comes to “sharing the love”. There are numerous documented hybrids between Mallards and anything with feathers that floats. See for example, the following site, which has some pictures of Mallard hybrids, including with Wood Duck.
http://10000birds.com/hybrid-mallards.htm
Cheers,
John W.
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3 comments
sally teschon
Saw two mallards mating last week-in October?- We thought Mr. Mallard had drowned poor Mrs. Mallard. NOT.
Diana
Thank you, John. That is a really interesting website. I had no idea that ducks were so free with the love!
-D
John W.
Hi Jim,
Mallards (especially the males) are notorious for being “non-discriminatory” when it comes to “sharing the love”. There are numerous documented hybrids between Mallards and anything with feathers that floats. See for example, the following site, which has some pictures of Mallard hybrids, including with Wood Duck.
http://10000birds.com/hybrid-mallards.htm
Cheers,
John W.