Pacific Black Ducks x Mallard ducklings with mother duck at University of Waikato lake, Hamiltion, University of Waikato, New Zealand.

Very confused on whether or not it is a mottled duck or mottled / mallard !
If you could help me i’d appreciate it.

15 young

female with 15 ducklings

The parents just left, now the babies are alone.

Dad was watching duckling until the mom came back from our pool (ducklings where in the bay, not pictured)

Female mallard with 10 newly hatched ducklings. They nest in the bushes above the pool every year, despite our efforts to evict them. They stayed for 2 days after hatching before leaving.

Mallard ducklings that hatched above our pool. A mother duck will nest in our yard every year, despite our best efforts to discourage her. They stayed for 2 days before leaving.

Adult male and female with eight ducklings

Mom and lots of ducklings.

Female with 7 ducklings.

Five mallard ducklings without parents. It looked like a coot was babysitting them. I've seen this behavior before - coots looking after mallard babies.