var.
An incredibly large proportion of requests for help with identification from non-birders or novice birders relate to domestic ducks or domestic geese. That's because they don't appear in most bird books and they often look nothing like their wild ancestors.
Apart from Mallards, the only other species of duck that has been truly domesticated is the Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata. Domestic variants of Muscovy Ducks are becoming increasingly common in the UK and there are now many pairs breeding in the wild.
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 10th November 2007
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
|
domestic Mallards, Wroxham Broad (Norfolk, UK), 5th February 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 10th November 2007
|
%20(1).JPG) |
%20(2).JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards (and Moorhen), Polgigga (Cornwall, UK), 18th November 2013
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
|
domestic Mallards, Polgigga (Cornwall, UK), 17th November 2014
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Wroxham Broad (Norfolk, UK), 30th January 2010
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Helston Boating Lake (Cornwall, UK), 21st November 2013
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 27th January 2008
|
 |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Minsmere (Suffolk, UK), 20th September 2004
|
domestic Mallard, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 21st December 2006
|
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Porthloo Duckpond, St Mary's (Scilly, UK), 6th August 2010 - at the time I'd not appreciated that domestic Mallards could have such pink bills but apparently this is normal for the Aylesbury breed - thanks to those of you who helped with these
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Cleethorpes (Norfolk, UK), 7th April 2012
|
domestic Mallard, Graffham Water (Cambridgeshire, UK), 24th September 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Cleethorpes (Norfolk, UK), 7th April 2012
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Graffham Water (Cambridgeshire, UK), 24th September 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Felbrigg Lake (Norfolk, UK), 24th July 2010
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Snettisham (Norfolk, UK), 8th December 2012
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
captive domestic Mallard, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 7th December 2015 - I had assumed this was one of the greenish black domestic variants of Mallard, such as Black East Indian and did not notice any features indicative of hybrid origin when the bird was photographed; however some images seem to display a hint of pink warty bits at the base of the bill as you see on domestic Muscovies - I can hardly believe this is a Muscovy hybrid though (backcrosses with Muscovy do not occur) so will check this next time I'm at the collection
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Snettisham (Norfolk, UK), 8th December 2012 - I think this one may be an intersex female, i.e. a female developing male characteristics, given the green on the head in combination with a female-type bill
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Snettisham (Norfolk, UK), 8th December 2012
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Porthloo, St Mary's (Scilly, UK), 11th August 2012
|
 |
 |
|
domestic Mallard, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 17th November 2007
|
domestic Mallard, Rollesby Broad (Norfolk, UK), 24th January 2016
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
domestic Mallard, Felbrigg Lake (Norfolk, UK), 24th July 2010
|
domestic Mallard, Cockshoot Broad (Norfolk, UK), 12th November 2011
|
 |
 |
|
domestic Mallard, Welney (Norfolk, UK), 9th April 2011
|
domestic Mallard, Salhouse Broad (Norfolk, UK), 24th December 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Malthouse Broad (Norfolk, UK), 21st February 2015
|
%20(1).JPG) |
%20(2).JPG) |
%20(3).JPG) |
|
|
domestic Mallard, Malthouse Broad (Norfolk, UK), 21st February 2015
|
.JPG) |
 |
|
domestic Mallard, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 12th March 2011
|
domestic Mallard, Caerlaverock (Dumfries & Galloway, UK), 29th December 2011
|
 |
 |
|
domestic Mallards, Pensthorpe (Norfolk, UK), 9th March 2014 - the bird on the left was in the nature reserve but the bird on the right was inside an enclosure with captive birds; I'm not sure if it's a male showing remnants of juvenile plumage or an advanced intersex female
|
%20(1).JPG) |
%20(3).JPG) |
%20(5).JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Welney (Norfolk, UK), 10th January 2015 - the first 3 photos show the same bird
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 16th February 2008
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 30th April 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 12th March 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Cockshoot Broad (Norfolk, UK), 5th February 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Rollesby Broad (Norfolk, UK), 17th December 2011
|
%20(2).JPG) |
%20(3).JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Leathes Ham, Lowestoft (Suffolk, UK), 8th November 2014
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Lynford Arboretum (Norfolk, UK), 29th November 2014
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
|
domestic Mallard, Anmer (Norfolk, UK), 25th January 2013
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Flitcham (Norfolk, UK), 19th March 2009
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Whitlingham CP (Norfolk, UK), 1st July 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Whitlingham CP (Norfolk, UK), 1st July 2011
|
domestic Mallard, Snettisham (Norfolk, UK), 8th December 2012
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Whitlingham CP (Norfolk, UK), 19th June 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Snettisham (Norfolk, UK), 31st March 2009
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Coxford (Norfolk, UK), 8th April 2009
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 10th November 2007
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 27th September 2007
|
 |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 10th January 2008
|
domestic Mallard, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 21st May 2004
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Flixton GP (Suffolk, UK), 27th August 2005
|
domestic Mallard, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 28th February 2004
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 6th February 2007
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
|
domestic Mallard, Burnham Norton (Norfolk, UK), 29th April 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Holkham, Park (Norfolk, UK), 4th February 2012
|
 |
|
captive domestic Mallards, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 12th March 2011
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, West Somerton (Norfolk, UK), 26th December 2009
|
.JPG) |
 |
|
domestic Mallard, West Somerton (Norfolk, UK), 26th December 2009
|
domestic Mallard, Whitlingham CP (Norfolk, UK), 7th February 2010
|
 |
 |
|
domestic Mallards, Chew Valley Lake (Avon, UK), 1st October 2011
|
domestic Mallards, Horsey (Norfolk, UK), 17th December 2011
|
,%20Martin%20Mere,%2028-Dec-03.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
captive domestic Mallard, Martin Mere (Lancashire, UK), 28th December 2003
|
domestic Mallard duckling, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 21st May 2004
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Lake Lothing, Lowestoft (Suffolk, UK), 11th February 2012
|
%201.JPG) |
%202.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Broome GPs (Norfolk, UK), 11th February 2012
|
 |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Flitcham (Norfolk, UK), 17th March 2004
|
domestic Mallard, Wroxham Broad (Norfolk, UK), 30th January 2010
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 21st May 2007
|
%20(2).JPG) |
%20(1).JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Bittering (Norfolk, UK), 20th April 2014
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 28th June 2007
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 25th July 2007
|
 |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 2nd July 2007
|
domestic Mallard, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 28th June 2007
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Porthloo Duckpond, St Mary's (Scilly, UK), 3rd October 2007
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, Porthloo Duckpond, St Mary's (Scilly, UK), 5th October 2007
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 12th June 2008
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 27th December 2008
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallards, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 22nd October 2007
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Wroxham Broad (Norfolk, UK), 17th April 2004 (this one is nearly normal but apears to have some domestic ancestry)
|
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Salthouse (Norfolk, UK), 16th February 2008
|
 |
 |
|
domestic Mallard, Bittering GP (Norfolk, UK), 8th October 2004
|
domestic Mallard, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 8th March 2008
|
 |
 |
|
domestic Mallard, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 26th April 2008
|
domestic Mallard, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 29th March 2008
|
|
.JPG) |
|
domestic Mallard, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 7th December 2008
|
domestic Mallard, South Creake (Norfolk, UK), 21st May 2007
|
.JPG) |
|
|
domestic Mallard, Swanton Morley (Norfolk, UK), 14th October 2007
|
|
For the Mallards above it is impossible to assign them to any particular domestic breed. Most are living in uncontrolled environments so are unlikely to be pure breed, and even if they resemble a particular breed that doesn't mean they are pure examples of that breed. The follwing birds are in captivity and all of the Mallards in their pen resembled the same breed, so I think it is safe to assume they are 'pure' Miniature Silver Appleyard.