18 Oct Have You Seen These Odd Ducks? | Oct 2016

Odd Ducks

Domestic Ducks

If you have gone for a walk in a park, you may have seen odd ducks.

They may have appeared in unusual colors, they may have crests, or they may have both.

When I first saw such ducks in a local park, I thought I had discovered a new species. I expected fame and recognition for my discovery.

Fortunately the experts at my local Audubon chapter were kind.

Domestic Duck

Actually, these are domestic ducks that had (most likely) been released in your area.

Sometimes people buy a cute chick as a pet and then become shocked when it grows up. An adult duck has many quirks that make it a bothersome house pet (compared to a fuzzy little chick that’s content to stay in a box). For example, they nip, fly, and quack.

So these ducks end up being set loose in a park.

The odd colors are the result of breeding with other domestic ducks or with Mallards.

For info, real Mallards look like the ducks in the photo below.

Mallard – Female (Left), Male (Right) and Five Chicks

Much success,

Steve Kaye

Find More at:

Funny Birds

Visit Your Local Park

Why Is This Duck Smiling

Help Birds Tip

Buy pets only when you know what to expect.

Why: Releasing a pet is bad for the pet and bad for the environment. Some perish. Others cause havoc.

Better: First, conduct appropriate research. Then visit Adopt a Pet to locate an animal shelter in your area.

Did You Know?

The most effective way to help birds is to buy land.

Please visit the web site for The Trust for Public Land to learn about what they’re doing.

You can help – Please share this blog with others.

Inspiring Respect for Nature, one bird at a time.

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