Frankenduk

Cris shot this duck Saturday morning. It's obviously a hybrid of one flavor or another. Both Black ducks and Mallards are prolific crossbreeders, and this behavior is often cited as a potential contributor to declining black duck numbers. We speculated for some time about what the parents of this duck might have been, checked a few websites, and couldn't agree. Dad's theory was a Mallard and Pintail. Mine a Black and Muscovy. We'll never be sure, I suppose.

I sent these pictures and a description to Gary Costanzo, Migratory Game Bird Program Manager at VDGIF. His best guess is Dad's correct...Pintail/Mallard. His argument is the large amount of white on the chest and neck, shape and color of the head, and lack of purple in the speculum point suspicion at a Pintail and Mallard as parents. Gary sent a great picture of an obvious Pintail/Mallard cross. If he gives me permission, I'll post that pic up here later.

One thing's for certain....it's an oddity. Anybody else want to pile on and place an entry in the 2009 "Who's Yo Daddy" duck quiz? Hit the comment button and give us your best guess. Try to keep it clean please, and give us the rationale for your choice.

Here's another conundrum to consider: if I can shoot five ducks per day, with only four allowed to be Mallards, and let's say I've already shot four Mallards.......or my limit of Pintails.....what do we count a duck like this as?.....hmmmm.....