Mallard ducks are sexually dimorphic, which means the males and females look different from each other. The females are brown and relatively dowdy, whereas the males have a vivid purple sash on the wings and are iridescent colors. The male Canvasback has solid white to light gray plumage. His female counterpart has plumage that is grayish-brown. [5] X Research source The male Wood Duck has gray feathers with blue markings on the wings during mating season. The female’s plumage is usually grayish-brown. [6] X Research source Male and female Mottled Ducks have similarly colored feathers, making it difficult to tell them apart by plumage alone. [7] X Research source
In Mallards, the male duck has a bright yellow bill and the female has a brown and orange bill. [8] X Trustworthy Source The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Research lab of Cornell University dedicated to interpreting and conserving the Earth’s biological diversity through research and education about birds Go to source [9] X Research source In Mottled Ducks, the male duck has a bill that is a solid olive green to yellow color. The female’s bill is brown to orange with dark splotches. [10] X Research source Male Wood Ducks have a red bill that has a patch of yellow at the bottom. [11] X Research source During mating season, the bill of the Ruddy Duck changes to a bright baby blue.
Females do not have a sex feather. [15] X Research source
The sound of a quack can be used to differentiate between male and female ducks from the time that ducks are about one month old. [17] X Research source In Muscovy ducks, the female’s quack sounds like a trill or a coo. A male Muscovy will make a quack that’s very deep and breathy (sounds like ‘huch-uch-uch’). [18] X Research source The female Grey Teal makes a quack that sounds like a cackling noise, which differentiates it from the male Grey Teal. [19] X Research source
When you place the duck on the table, position it so that its breast is facing up and its legs are facing away from you. The tail should drape over the edge of the table so that it can be bent down to examine the cloaca. [21] X Trustworthy Source Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for leading international efforts to end world hunger and improve nutrition Go to source [22] X Research source If you do not have a solid surface on which you can lay the duck, you can also kneel down and lay the duck on your leg so that its tail can be bent over your knee. [23] X Trustworthy Source Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for leading international efforts to end world hunger and improve nutrition Go to source Venting is even more difficult in ducklings than adult ducks, so ask a professional to do this.
Use gentle pressure while attempting to expose the cloacal walls and genitals. Too much pressure can cause serious injury to the duck. An alternative approach to exposing the cloacal walls and genitals is to insert your finger about one centimeter into the cloaca and move your finger in a circular motion to relax the sphincter that keeps the cloaca closed. [26] X Trustworthy Source Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations Specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for leading international efforts to end world hunger and improve nutrition Go to source Once the sphincter is relaxed, you can use your thumbs to ease the cloacal walls apart.
In male ducks, the penis will be small and unsheathed (uncovered) in immature ducks and large and sheathed in adults. [29] X Research source
