Subject: Duck Question
Date: Dec 31 19:24:15 2000
From: MartinMuller - MartinMuller at email.msn.com


Mary K,

You wrote about some of the varieties of mallards you found at Green Lake;
specifically the large black ones with some metallic purple on their wings.

Strictly speaking these are not hybrids (= cross between two species).
They're just unusual-looking mallards, and yes, genetically they are
mallards and can breed perfectly normal with "regular" mallards (although
the result will probably look a bit "off"). You were right to look for the
curl in the central tail feathers, which can be found in the males of even
some of these unusual-looking birds.

Green Lake is a favorite dumping ground for unwanted pets and several pet
ducks have ended up there, including some unusual-looking mallards. Most of
these larger birds, that have some or almost no mallard field marks, are
most likely descendants of purposefully bred varieties of mallards. People
breed some varieties for their looks (including different colors of mallards
with little tufts of feathers on their heads that look like bonnets), or for
meat (bigger is better) or for other qualities like producing more eggs or
being particularly attentive to eggs (good "sitters")). Some of the
characteristics people breed for (like increased egg production or
"sitting") apparently also result in ducks looking nothing like the original
wild stock.

Isn't it amazing what people can do when they set their minds to it? ;)

Sincerely,
Martin Muller, Seattle
MartinMuller at email.msn.com