Mallard or Black Duck?

[djl8885]

Since I am new to duck hunting (pheasant hunter falling in love with water fowling) I am curious if I shot a mallard or a black duck, I am near positive I shot a hen mallard but a guy at work said it was a black duck. From the wings (all I have left to look at) and a pic that dosen't have much detail, what is the difference between a hen mallard and a black duck in appearance? the wings I have are brown with a purplish stripe and are white underneath. I am just curious for my next trip to the field. Thanks

[Connor M]

After you see the two they look nothing alike. A black has a very dark brown chest (almost black thus the name) and a grey head with darker brown on top. They do have a puple patch on their wing.

A hen mallard will have a light brown chest and a light brown head. Also a hen will have an orange beak.

Hopes this helps but the best thing you can do is look up a picture of both.

[Jeff Beltz]

On the wings, where the blue patch is, if there is any white stripes on each side, it is an Mallard. If the Blue patch is solid blue with no white and the duck itself is very dark, it is a Black duck

[Yooper350]

I thought black ducks have a white trim edge on one side of the wing spectrum while mallards have the white trim edge on both edges of the wing spectrum? I haven't shot a black ducks in a few years so I don't remember for sure but thats how I thought it was, I could be wrong.

[djl8885]

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp295/djl8885/100_2968.jpg
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp295/djl8885/100_2980.jpg
that's the bird in question

[J Kryspin]

You are correct.

[OutForBlood87]

Thats a hen mallard you have.

Pics are from the web....

Black Duck

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii116/OutForBlood87/blackduck.jpg

Black duck wing

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii116/OutForBlood87/Blackduckwing.jpg

Mallard hen

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii116/OutForBlood87/mallardhen.jpg

[djl8885]

thanks for the feedback that's what I thought, that's what I get for listening to somebody then second guessing myself. Thanks guys:rolleyes:

[Jeff Gudenkauf]

Yep - that's Miss Suzie Q

[MNBandCollector_22]

Can also look at the beak of the duck. Suzzies will have a more orange and black beak were the black will have a real dull dark yellow.