Albino Duck (1 Viewer)

[BenByfield]

Found an awesome albino duck on a walk today. Unlike other albino duck pictures on the internet, this was (dazz) crystal white, no imperfections in the feathers. Rare? Unusual? It was sitting with a group of other ducks and was an adult. Maybe its a different species?

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Found an awesome albino duck on a walk today. Unlike other albino duck pictures on the internet, this was (dazz) crystal white, no imperfections in the feathers. Rare? Unusual? It was sitting with a group of other ducks and was an adult. Maybe its a different species?

Sounds like a domesticated form of Mallard. They can often be pure white.

CB

 

[BenByfield]

Sounds like a domesticated form of Mallard. They can often be pure white.

CB

So is this guy white, or albino?

 

[Tiraya]

Unless its a bird like a swan that has white feathers in its typical plumage, a white bird is almost certainly under the leucistic/albino category. If white feathering isn't its typical plumage, then you can count on a colour mutation to be the answer.

Now the question is, how do you tell if a Mute swan is leucistic?

 

[Mysticete]

Not necessarily...there are color mutations and morphs that are not proper albinos. I think most white domestic ducks and geese would fall under this.

 

[BenByfield]

Just for clarity, this was no swan! 100% a duck and pure white, which led me to the albino assumption, as it appeared to have no colour as opposed to reduced colour.

Either way, I hope it spreads it gene. I want to see some white ducklings!

 

[fugl]

How big was your duck? Most domestic Mallards are bigger than wild Mallards, a few ("call ducks") are smaller, but hardly any are exactly the same size (or shape: most breeds of domestic duck--bred as they've been for eggs or meat--are also differently proportioned than their wild ancestors).

Here's an exception--an all-white Mallard which otherwise looks exactly like a wild bird & may actually be one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fugl/405277939/in/set-72157602221544709

 

[Cheshire Birder]

So is this guy white, or albino?

Just for clarity, this was no swan! 100% a duck and pure white, which led me to the albino assumption, as it appeared to have no colour as opposed to reduced colour.

Either way, I hope it spreads it gene. I want to see some white ducklings!

It is most likely a white duck not albino. Here is a link to a white ducks, scroll down for the ducklings, which should be yellow when crossed with a Mallard - http://annmackiemiller.hubpages.com...other-Little-White-Duck-New-Duckling-Pictures.

CB

 

[etudiant]

Albino mammals such as rabbits also have red eyes afaik(presumably because the iris lacks pigment?).
Should this not apply to birds as well? It might give a differentiation between albino and leucistic forms.

 

[meadowbrook]

White Mallard

I have a hotel in NC with a flock of ducks that the kids love to feed. Several years ago a white mallard was hatched, and last year what I assume to be the white's mother hatched both a white and a black. The attached pictures should provide proof positive that both black and white ducks do exist and are 100% mallard. The young white and black have flown the coop, but the aunt remains. I am curious to see what hatches next year.

 

[fugl]

I have a hotel in NC with a flock of ducks that the kids love to feed. Several years ago a white mallard was hatched, and last year what I assume to be the white's mother hatched both a white and a black. The attached pictures should provide proof positive that both black and white ducks do exist and are 100% mallard. The young white and black have flown the coop, but the aunt remains. I am curious to see what hatches next year.

Domestic mallards come in all kinds of shapes, sizes & colors & when domestic mallards of difference genetic background inter-breed the resulting offspring can be all over the map, as with your birds. Nothing unusual or surprising about this, but thanks for the photos which illustrate this very well.

 

[John R Palmer]

Hi albino ducks have pink not black eyes.
So that makes these ducks very rare.
John