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The term drake refers exclusively to males while the term duck can refer to either gender , and the term hen refers exclusively to females. Immature birds of either gender are called ducklings, not drakes or hens. DRAKE rhymes with lake, fake, rake, and bake. For many ducks native to the Northern Hemisphere, a drake can look significantly different than hens of the same species.
In addition to some minor size differences, males often have more vibrantly colored plumage , including bolder color patches, greater contrast, more elaborate markings, specialty feathers, and even iridescent patches.
Males' bills may also be more brightly colored than females. Particularly for dabbling duck drakes, these differences contrast boldly and make it easy to tell duck genders apart. Examples of strongly dimorphic drakes include:. In each of these cases and many others, females are much more camouflaged , though they may still have some distinct markings.
Females are generally less bold and colorful, with neutral plumage in concealing hues such as brown, black, buff, gray, and similar earth tones. Their bills, eyes, legs, and feet may also be more muted than their male counterparts, and their markings are not usually as well defined.
For many similar duck species, females may be very challenging to tell apart, while males can be instantly identified. Many male ducks also have oddly shaped feathers that attract additional attention to their plumage. Familiar examples include:. These unusual feather shapes are critical for attracting mates and showing off strength and health to defend a territory. Both the bright colors and the unique feathers often play critical roles in courtship displays.
Males will use postures and movements that show off their feather colors and specialized shapes in order to attract the attention of desirable females. The body shape is identical as is the shape of the bill but their plumage coloring is different.
The photo above shows an adult drake Common Goldeneye with a clear, yellow eyes, green iridescence on the head and neck with a white spot behind the all black bill. Most the the body of this male is a brilliant white that contrasts with the dark to black back, rump, wings and tail. First winter drake Common Goldeneye side view — Nikon D, f7.
The Common Goldeneye in the photo above is also a drake but his coloring is different than the male in the first photo and that is because this male goldeneye is in its first winter. Note that his head and neck are brown instead of an iridescent green, that his body has less white and that his back, sides, rump and tail are brownish mixed with white.
The amount of white and brown body feathers can vary from one individual to another. During their first winter their eyes are yellow but not clear or as bright of a yellow as adult male Common Goldeneyes exhibit. The white patch, or loral spot, behind the bill at this age can vary from clear white to white with a brown smudgy appearance.
First winter drake Common Goldeneyes can be confusing for novice birders and bird photographers to sex but here is a hint, female Common Goldeneyes do not have the white loral spot behind their bills. Click here to see more of my Common Goldeneye photos plus facts and information about this species.
Echoing Marty. Mallard mating can be that way. I would assume the female was trying to entice her actual mate, but the rest of the gang was taking advantage and overwhelming the pair. Sorry it went so badly. We have had a pair of crested ducks on our lake for years.
They were a mated pair. But now 3 rouge ducks have come and have either chased the male away or killed him. Every time the whited crested gets in the water the rouge ducks speed over and pounce on her and hold her underwater.
They want to keep her on shore. We are so afraid they will drown her as they hold her under water so long. Wish we could get rid of the rouge ones. Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. Why are these mallard males beating up this female? Share this: Twitter Facebook. Previous Who laid these eggs? Next Large eggs on the dock and in the water? About The Author. Tom of AskaNaturalist. Related Posts.
Tom Loading Elaine Paterson on February 1, at am. Very interesting. Thanks, Tom Loading MHal on February 1, at am. They are usually absent except for a lone male now and then during the summer, and fall, but in the winter, especially this winter, 50 or 60 are coming in to eat the Bunnies corn and the seeds that I put on the ground for small ground feeding birds… Its February and have not noticed any breeding behavior, perhaps food overtakes the breeding instinct, but I have noticed that the females allow the males to eat first, then the piling of all the males and females on the corn starts with a frenzy…I do have a question…As the ducks are lying on the snow at the food pile, they tuck their feet up almost to their wings in many cases lying on the ground looking like little roly poly canisters…As swimmers in ice water at the pond, it would seem that the cold would not affect their feet, but on the ground in the snow, many look like they are having a hard time with the snow on their feet..
Thank you M Loading Lonnie R. Clemens on May 10, at am. Interesting…… Sincerely, Lonnie Loading Hanna on May 27, at am. JC on June 8, at am. CarolO on June 8, at pm. JC — very well done! And I love your comment back to the misguided female rower! William Keilty on April 2, at am.
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