Any hard core duck hunters here able to give me an opinion on species? Killed in a field in Saskatchewan. I know what I think it is, would just like some other opinions.
Note the olive bill. The lack of a any white on the chest, pure brown like a hen mallard. Not a spec of green anywhere on the head, did not see a single mallard drake that did not have at least a few green spots.
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Black Duck. Here's a couple I killed a few years ago for reference. We don't see many here in KY
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Definitely a you g black duck
Black duck. We kill them in Maryland
Quote from: Lcmacd 58 on November 02, 2025, 10:52:55 PMDefinitely a you g black duck
wing patch is that of a mallard. Either real young mallard or possible mutant mallard/ black.
That is what bugged me Stew. Also, it was pretty lightly colored. It sure looked exactly like a Mottled duck which I have held in my hands before, except for the classic Mallard white bars. Also, mottled would be crazy rare in SK. I leaned toward Black/Mallard hybrid. Pattern of black, but wing spec of mallard, lighter colors like Mallard. I reached out to Delta Waterfowl and will see what they have to say.
have you guys that killed Blacks seen them lighter colored like this bird? Hen Black duck maybe?
Thanks for all your thoughts guys.
I've shot quite a few black ducks in the late season here in Michigan and that is definitely not a black. The hybrid black/mallard would be my guess. Mottled, very doubtful.
Possibly a hen mallard that's transitioning ;)
Black/ mallard hybrid. Getting more and more of them in NEW ENGLAND. Z
Quote from: g8rvet on November 03, 2025, 10:01:12 PMThat is what bugged me Stew. Also, it was pretty lightly colored. It sure looked exactly like a Mottled duck which I have held in my hands before, except for the classic Mallard white bars. Also, mottled would be crazy rare in SK. I leaned toward Black/Mallard hybrid. Pattern of black, but wing spec of mallard, lighter colors like Mallard. I reached out to Delta Waterfowl and will see what they have to say.
have you guys that killed Blacks seen them lighter colored like this bird? Hen Black duck maybe?
Thanks for all your thoughts guys.
Doesn't come close to a black hen in my opinion. Still think mutant. Otherwise an extremely young mallard.