duck ID

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I have heard many competent birders claim that the Mallards with odd
plumages found in many of our local parks are hybrids with some sort of
"barnyard"  duck.  Is there any evidence for this? 

We all know that Rock Doves also come in an assortment of interresting
colors.  Back in my younger days, I had a reputable, but long forgotten
source tell me that inbreeding in the domestic pigeon stock caused these
variants.  He made the argument sound reasonable, but there is no way I
could reproduce it today.

I know there are some non-Mallards at the local ponds and there must be
some hybrids since Mallards will mate with anything.  I also thought that
most domestic ducks (including the all white ones) were derived from
Mallard stock, presumably through in breading.

I have always assumed that most of these odd plumaged ducks are Mallards
whose color variants are due to inbreeding.

This is all speculation and recollections from long forgotten
conversations.  Does anyone have any facts? 

Dave


David Mozurkewich
Seabrook MD USA
dm@fornax.usno.navy.mil

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