What is this?

[Duck Butter]

Check the wings to tell the sex. Its a hatch year juvenile, but usually the female juvies have the start of the teardrop eye ring, this one looks like its 'chin strap' is forming (drake) but they are difficult to tell apart when they are young, even by looking at the wing. Sometimes you have to 'crack' them (open up the cloaca) to see if a penis is there or not.


1st is a male hatch year wood duck

2nd is a female hatch year wood duck
notice the white 'teardops' on the ends of the secondary feathers