Is this a Domestic Mallard ?

[Jim Kirker]

This unusual looking duck was on the water with many mallard/grey duck hybrids late this morning on the pond by the Towle Road entrance to Waiatarua Reserve. It was larger than the other ducks and had orange legs, a black bill, green speculum and dark cream to brown bib. I'm assuming it is a domestic duck, probably a mallard. Also a pair of paradise shelduck in long grass on the far bank and a harrier hawk circling far out in the swamp with alarm calls from birds beneath. It was overcast with light showers and a chilly NW wind. I thought the duck might be a rare species until I found online photos of domestic mallard variants and hybrids images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif

[Bennyboy87654]

I've seen this type of duck at a local pond. I would say its a hybrid between a Mallard and some type of domestic duck.

[Clinton9]

Three photos of this white-breasted hybrid Muscovy duck X domestic Mallard duck. Cannot procreate.

[TheBirderman]

This is a Domestic Duck. No particular breed to it.

[Liam Ballard]

Cannot procreate, Clinton? Maybe it is a different breed, but there is a biggish brown/black domestic duck with a bib near my house with three large ducklings - two of which are ordinary Greylard colouration and one just like its mother.

[Clinton9]

Hybrids between Muscovy duck and Mallard duck, cannot procreate, like mules (hybrids between donkey and horse)...mules can't procreate.

Cannot procreate, Clinton? Maybe it is a different breed, but there is a biggish brown/black domestic duck with a bib near my house with three large ducklings - two of which are ordinary Greylard colouration and one just like its mother.

[Liam Ballard]

Interesting, I must be thinking of a different breed.

[les]

you cannot by any stretch of imagination say it is a muscovy hybrid from a photo?No take that back,I guess you can?

[Raewyn]

For comparison, this bird at Sullivan Lake Whakatane is definitely a mulard (mallard x muscovy hybrid). It does display features of both parents, and associates with muscovies. The bird above is in the water so we can't see its feet or its stance, but the colour is fairly typical of cross-bred domestic mallards, and some of them can be quite large.