i just mounted what ithought was a femalemallard.now by comparing it with another female they look quite different.what are the differences.
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The absence of the two white bars on the speculum definitly differs a black duck from a hen mallard.
I have one thats a cross, darker than a mallard hen but not a dark black duck either.
Its tuff to catagorize with generalized ifs, and, whats and so on.
Just accept the bird for the bird without trying to figure it out.
If its crossbred it could have 10% mallard and anything in the dna could pop up, or 5% black duck could be only one feather or feather group would should that or even none showing up.
That would make it a cropout.
Best thing instead of asking here is to go to google and type in black duck photo, I will bet you can find exactly what you are looking for.
Many times we generalize a specimen here almost like a outhouse lawyer and legal advice.