Ducks, how to tell male from female?

Question

I heard that you can tell if your duck is a male or female by listening to their quack. So what does a male and female quack sound like? I mean is one louder then the other or quieter then the other?

Answer 1

First off, while some ducks can be sexed according to color, few common domestic ducks fall into this category.

Yes, male and female ducks have different quacks. The differences vary with breed however. In some breeds, the male only hisses, in some he'll have a raspy call. So, without the breed, there's no way to give you a good way to tell.

BUT, almost every domestic duck has a tell tale sign, which has already been mentioned. The male will have a little curl just above the tail. In some breeds, this is very slight. In the muscovies, there is no curl at all (because the muscovy is the only domestic duck not derived from the mallard).

Usually a male duck will have a loud harsh call and the female has a softer higher sound. But, like I said, it varies by breed. In muscovies, the male is nearly twice the size of the female by two months old.

Hope that helps.


EDIT::::: Despite rumors to the contrary, this information is not ill informed. I happen to own a duck farm. While I raise mostly muscovies (who do make noise. in fact, the male hisses and the female "peeps") I assure you that I do know what I'm talking about.

Currently awaiting the hatching of some eighty ducklings. I do so love my ducks.

EDIT EDIT::: Muscovy males most certainly do NOT have a curl on their tails. Though they do have really neat Elvis type crests on top of their heads.

Answer 2

1. Look at the duck in question. Notice the patterns of coloration.
2. Are you seeing colors? If so most likely you are seeing a male duck. The male Mallard has a green head and ring on its neck.
3. Do you see a more muted variation? The female Mallard duck is completely brown.
4. Get a good reference book about birds. You will find photos or detailed colored drawings showing you the different looks of the respective genders of ducks.
5. Note that drakes (males) have a raspy, whispering quack; while females are loud and clear.
6. Drakes have a curled sex feather on their tail (which might not be readily seen at a distance, however) that the females lack.

Answer 3

I've never heard of being able to distinguish male and female ducks by their quacks. The ability to distinguish male and female, in some cases, depends on the breed of duck. For example, it is easy to tell the difference between a male and female mallard by their coloring. I'm assuming you are referring to the common Pekin duck (white, domestic, flightless). If that's the case, the male Pekin has a curl at the end of his tail -- or so I've been told. I'm not sure if the tail curl pertains to any other species though.

Answer 4

Male And Female Mallards

Answer 5

I feed ducks and geese everyday and I've rescued many! I can tell you for a FACT that all the answers you've gotten so far are uninformed!

SIMPLE :
Males have a 'curly q' on the back of their tails and the females don't! It doesn't matter what species they are!

... a very simple way to tell... especially when breeding season is over, because the bright beautiful males loose their 'mating suits' and become rather dull looking. This is natures way of signaling that it's time to reproduce or the time is up. It's a biological clock.

As far as which one can squack louder.... the females aren't too shabby! They can be very vocal and aggressive. They have individual personalities and I've had shy males and aggressive ones, same with the females.

Pekings are wonderful ducks! (white ones) Mallards are the 'thinkers' of the duck world.
Muscovy's are the coolest of all... sweet and will be your best friend if you feed them and just talk to them! They don't make any noise at all! No squack or honk, they do wiggle their tail as a way of communicating.

Trust me... I know what I'm talking about!

Answer 6

Males tend to make more quacking noises than females. Usually, when they're about to reach adulthood, the females are more brown all over than males. Young adult ducks would already have their ring around the neck. Investigate into that if you don't believe me. Good enough, yes?

Answer 7

In most bird species the male is brilliant in color and markings and the females are dull and dingy with little color. That is so that the female blends in to the surroundings while she's sitting on a nest of eggs. The male birds also have a penis, but it's hidden.

Answer 8

The Male duck is always more colorful than the female

Answer 9

i have eight ducks and couldn't tell the males from the females until they almost fully grown. the difference is that the males tail feathers curl up at the tips, females do not!!! needless to say some of them have really funny names:)

Answer 10

The male has a softer, sweeter quack, and the female has a louder, more insistent quack; the male sounds like he is friendly or placating, the female sounds like she is angry or bossy.
The male also has a curly feather on his tail, which the female does not. But once in a while he moults the curly feather and its not there until the new one grows in.