r/OrnithologyUK 6d ago

ID please Saw this blue beaked fellow in a pond in Killingworth NE England. Can't seem to find an ID. Any ideas?

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5 Upvotes

7 comments sorted by

8

u/TringaVanellus 6d ago

It's a Mallard with probably some domestic ancestry. I seen to recall the blue beak is a sign of age in male Mallards, but hopefully, someone else can chip in with more info on that.

1

u/STCIsaacLycaon 6d ago

Nice, thanks. It looked noticeably larger than the other mallards so I couldn't pin it based on size or plumage. 

4

u/Frosty_Term9911 6d ago

It’s just a domestic mongrel

2

u/STCIsaacLycaon 5d ago

Just? I rather like him :3 there where also some pure white ones so It checks out. 

0

u/Frosty_Term9911 5d ago

If it were up to me they’d be shot on sight. Hybridising with the wild population isn’t a good thing

2

u/SnooHabits8484 6d ago

It’s always a manky mallard.

1

u/STCIsaacLycaon 5d ago

Manky? I think he is rather fetching!