The Mallard Pattern

(an allele on the Pattern Locus)

The Mallard Pattern allele is so named because it causes the feather pattern of the wild mallard; the original duck color so to speak.

M+ is rather incredibly dominant and can hide a lot of recessive genes. But there are also genes that can change the way M+ looks. Among these are the alleles on the Phase Locus and the Blue and Brown dilution genes.

Some genes that can overpower M+ are the Black gene, the White gene (when homozygous), and the harlequin phase allele (a delicate recessive with a mighty punch when homozygous!)

What does the Mallard Pattern look like?

Like all other genes, the mallard pattern may look different depending on which other genes it is paired with. Remember that every duck has two alleles per locus…for every SINGLE color locus! That’s a lot of options! But there are some tell-tale signs that always show up.

  • eye stripes. All mallard pattern ducks have eye stripes. In drakes, you’ll only be able to see the eye stripes in juvenile and eclipse plumage.

  • Without blue or brown dilution, the wing speculum is brightly colored and iridescent, varying from blue to purple.

  • The underside of the wing is pure white!

  • Drakes have white collars and claret bibs.

  • Ducklings hatch with eye stripes and four yellow spots on their back.

(example of pure white feathers under wing

Color play!

Color play!

Let’s get to the fun part and mix and match some of the other genetics with the Mallard Pattern gene and see what happens!

What will my duckling look like? The duckling down is a very good indicator of color genotype and phenotype!

Mallard Pattern/Dark Phase

Ducklings

What will my duckling look like? Mallard

Common names: Grey, Mallard

Genotype: M+/M+, Li+/Li+ (homozygous, pure)

Note: M+/md, Li+/li and M+/md, Li+/lih look just like the pure version!

Ducklings

  • ducklings have eye stripes; usually two and usually quite distinct. 
  • notice the four yellow spots on the back
  • feet are quite dark

Adults

  • females and juvenile males have eyestripes

  • both sexes have iridescent blue wing speculums

  • the ground color of females is a rich dark brown with black accents

  • drakes have iridescent green heads

  • drakes have white collars that gap in the back

  • drakes have solid claret bibs with defined edges

  • drakes have steel grey bellies and black rumps

Adults

Grey or mallard indian runner ducks

Mallard Pattern/Light Phase

Ducklings

Common names: Trout, Rouen Claire

Genotype: M+/M+, li/li (homozygous, pure)

Note: M+/md, li/li looks just like the pure version!

Ducklings

  • two eye stripes are thinner than in dark phase. 
  • the four yellow spots are bigger. All the yellow areas are bigger.
  • feet are paler than in dark phase 

Adults

  • females and juvenile males have eyestripes

  • both sexes have iridescent blue wing speculums

  • the ground color of females is a warm tan with black accents

  • drakes have iridescent green heads

  • white drake collars still gap in the back but are broader

  • drakes have solid claret bibs with defined edges

  • drake bellies are a paler grey; rumps are still black

Adults

(example of female trout wing)

Mallard Pattern/Light Phase with Brown

Ducklings

Common names: Brown Trout, Golden Trout

Genotype: M+/M+, li/li, d/d (homozygous, pure)

Note: M+/md, li/li looks just like the pure version!

Ducklings

  • eyestripes as in non-brown version.
  • dark down areas are a warm brown
  • feet have a brownish tint 

Adults

  • females and juvenile males have eyestripes

  • wing speculums have an iridescent bronze glow

  • the ground color of females is a pale tan with brown accents

  • drakes have iridescent bronze heads

  • drakes have white collars and claret bibs as in non-brown version

  • drake bellies have a brown tint; rumps are brown

Adults

Mallard Pattern/Light Phase with single Blue

Ducklings

Common names: Blue Trout

Genotype: M+/M+, li/li, Bl/bl+ (heterozygous, will not breed true)

Note: M+/md, li/li looks just like the pure version!

Ducklings

  • eyestripes as in non-blue version.
  • dark down areas are soft grey/blue
  • feet have a lavender tint 

Adults

  • females and juvenile males have eyestripes

  • wing speculums are grey/blue with NO iridescence

  • the ground color of females is a pale tan with grey/blue accents

  • drakes have dark grey/blue heads

  • drakes have white collars and claret bibs as in non-blue version

  • drake bellies are a pale grey; rumps are grey/blue

Adults

Mallard Pattern/Light-Harlequin Phase

Ducklings

What will my duckling look like? spotted

Common non-standard names: Spotted

Genotype: M+/M+, li/lih (heterozygous! will not breed true)

Note: M+/md, li/lih looks just like the pure version!

Ducklings

  • often there is only one dark line through the eye 
  • the four yellow spots are still visible but almost blend with all the other very expanded yellow areas giving an almost smoky effect.
  • feet are even paler than light phase

Adults

  • females and juvenile males have eyestripes

  • both sexes have iridescent blue wing speculums

  • the ground color of females is paler moving to white near the tail; black accents are tiny thin lines

  • drakes have iridescent green heads

  • white drake collars are broad and encircle the whole neck

  • drakes have frosted claret bibs with fringed edges

  • drake bellies are nearly white; rumps are still black

Adults

Note: I don’t have very many ducks like this so I am lacking a good drake image…

Mallard Pattern/Harlequin Phase

Ducklings

What will my duckling look like? snowy

Common names: harlequin, snowy, abacot, silver (UK)

Genotype: M+/M+, lih/lih (homozygous, pure)

Note: According to many observations, when lih is homozygous, the position of the Pattern Phase doesn’t matter as lih/lih expresses the same.

Ducklings

  • no evidence of eyestripes
  • yellow down with smoky smudges
  • feet are very pale

Adults

  • no evidence of eyestripes

  • both sexes have iridescent blue wing speculums

  • the ground color of females is nearly white

  • drakes have iridescent green heads

  • white drake collars are broad and encircle the whole neck

  • drakes have frosted claret bibs with fringed edges

  • drake bellies are nearly white; rumps are still black

Adults

Some of the other colors that would fit into this category are: Blue Fawn, Pastel, Nutmeg, and Apricot Trout to say nothing of the interesting blend of blue and brown together! Is that what some breeders call Cinnamon??

I don’t have precise images for all these colors yet but will post them when I come across them! A work in progress!