Hybrid Mallard

[Chocky]

This duck is beautiful. I don't know which duck he is crossed with but is certainly larger. Many of these ducks can be seen at Dawlish. This one I captured at Topsham docks

[Merlin]

Interesting point here Beryl regarding the 'hybrid' Mallards of which there are many of this type with white neck and breast, and as you say they are always larger than the 'pure' ones. I have no idea why or what they are 'crossed' with.

Pete.

[Chocky]

Well there is the Aylsebury Duck (Or Pekin ) which was bread in china from the mallard and is a very large duck and I think theses mallards have bread back if you catch my drift. There are a few of the Aylesbury ducks at Dawlish and these hybrid mallards too. I might be wrong but who knows

Many people assume that every white duck is an "Aylesbury" but if the duck has an orange or yellow bill it will not be pure Aylesbury but will have some commercial "Pekin" strain somewhere in its background. It is also one of the largest known breed of domestic ducks, although exceeded in weight by the Muscovy and equaled by the Rouen. Weights should be: Drakes 4.5 -5.4kg (10 to 12lb) and Ducks 4.1-5.0 kg (9 to 11 lb)(from Wikipedia)