Mallard × Hawaiian Duck Hybrid
Anas platyrhynchos × wyvilliana
Where to find them 2
● Hybrid Hawaiian ducks are seen in pairs near the Kanuimanu Ponds and the cement ponds near the parking lot
● A few pairs can be seen near the outlet at the boardwalk
● They don't flush as readily as migratory mallards when you walk toward them
Bird Facts 2
● Hawaiian Ducks (Koloa) at Kealia Pond hybridized with feral domestic Mallards that were let loose in public ponds.
● Pure Hawaiian Ducks evolved from migratory Mallards.
● Females retained all their features of the mallards including the black bill which recedes to reveal an orange base.
● Pure male Hawaiian duck does not have a iridescent green head during breeding season, but retains its winter plumage.
● Drake's bill will transition from yellow to olive green between season.
Sources and Credits
- no rights reserved, uploaded by Friends of Kealia Pond NWR
- (c) Friends of Kealia Pond NWR, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
