The bill, at least in my experience, shows the sex almost from the beginning. Certainly once they begin to mature the general pattern of the bill is retained even though it might dull in eclipse but the pattern will be there.


Hal Michael
Board of Directors,Ecologists Without Borders (http://ecowb.org/)
Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
ucd880 at comcast.net


> On 06/01/2022 4:06 PM John Riegsecker <jriegsecker at pobox.com> wrote:

>

>

> I considered that, but my understanding is the "hard" parts retain the

> female characteristics, hence the white eye and bill of a female. It's

> not just the plumage, it is also the fact it is smaller than the other

> two drakes that made me thing something more than an early molt was

> involved.

>

> On 6/1/2022 3:20 PM, Douglas Brown wrote:

> > Chirp,

> >

> > We had a similar Wood Duck in Bellingham at Scudder Pond in May 2011 and again in June 2012.

> > At the time, it was determined to be a gynandromorph, showing characteristics of both male and female plumage.

> > Here are some photos …..

> >

> > http://www.douglaslbrownphotography.com/swans-geese-and-ducks/?nggpage=35

> >

> > http://www.douglaslbrownphotography.com/swans-geese-and-ducks/?nggpage=38

> >

> > cheers, db in Bellingham

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>

> --

> John Riegsecker

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