leucistic mallard hen or hybrid?

[Randy Stout]

Good evening>

While at the local bird sanctuary today, this young lady swam up. I was geared up for long distance shots, so got only parts of her in each frame. I am pretty sure she is a leucistic mallard hen, not a hybrid. I would appreciate your help, as the folks at the sanctuary are talking about capturing and destroying her because they think shes a hybrid. Help!

I made no adjustments that might alter the ID. I do have a shot of her posterior if needed.

Thanks

Randy

[Ron Caswell]

Randy let's hope for a favorable outcome to this little duck, one that saves it's life I hope. ( I see that my bill looks a lot more orange then yours does, I went back and looked and I had upped my saturation in post so I believe yours is a correct color)

Ron Caswell

[Randy Stout]

Ron:

I am trying to get some evidence that might save her, hence the post here. Thanks for the full duck view, that might help others make up their mind.

Nice to see you on BPN. Be sure to post some in the avian forum.

Randy

[Declan Troy]

Hey Randy,

I think your duck is a domestic variant. Almost all domestic ducks are derived from Mallards and various traits have been selected for ranging from size (meat) to plumage with other characteristics expressed along the way. Since this one is quite pale you might be able to argue leucistic but not in the traditional sense of a pigment-challenged wild bird. It is unlikely that hybridization is involved in producing this duck.

[Randy Stout]

Thanks Declan:

I appreciate the input. Sorry that this is the case.

Randy

[William Malacarne]

Randy

If you do a search on Google for leucistic mallard you will find a some info.


Bill

[Randy Stout]

Bill:

I did do a google search, but there were so many variants, that I thought I would tap into our valuable resources here!

Randy

[Julie Kenward]

My question is why does she have to be destroyed? Why not just given to a petting zoo or something? Surely a vet could neuter her if that is the problem.