Mallard with blue bill? (1 Viewer)

[Birbthebird]

Hello,

First time to join this forum and love the positivity here!

I saw a Mallard that had a greyish blue bill. The other mallards were aggressive towards him too. Any idea what it is? I saw a video that it could be a wigeon hybrid..? But also that it could be an immature Mallard or one with some sickness? (Looked healthy though)

Thanks!

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
welcome to birdforum!
Its an aberrantly coloured Mallard without any hybrid influence. Such a blueish-grey bill is regular in domestic Mallards and in freeflying/wild Mallards with domestic ancestry/genes.

There are many examples of this here on birdforum, for example this recent thread with helpful comments by Butty and Jörn Lehmhus: Domestic Mallard hybrid, 27.03.22 Juist, Germany
Thanks from this thread here!

 

[KC Foggin]

Occasionally a variant that crops up frequently enough that taxidermists think these blue bills derive from Northern Pintail genes. Apart from the bill these birds look like normal Mallards.

 

[delia todd]

Hi Birbthebird and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Occasionally a variant that crops up frequently enough that taxidermists think these blue bills derive from Northern Pintail genes. Apart from the bill these birds look like normal Mallards.

Thanks KC! Didnt know this. Still no "thank you button" on BF ...

 

[KC Foggin]

Oh, didn't realize this was your first post Birbthebird so a warm welcome from me as well. Please join in wherever you like.

 

[KC Foggin]

Thanks KC! Didnt know this. Still no "thank you button" on BF ...

You can always click on the like tab

 

[Kits]

Welcome to Birdforum. I hope you enjoy your visits.

 

[Birbthebird]

Thanks all