How to Determine Male or Female Ducks
There are dozens of species in the Family Anatidae, or duck, geese, and swan family. In addition there are also dozens of duck breeds that are kept as pets. Each has their own unique plumage coloring and physical characteristics. Determining the sex of any duck is not limited to just one characteristic and can be different among species, breeds, and seasons. For some wild species the plumage makes the bird's gender obvious. For others, especially pet breeds of ducks, you may need to look for more subtle distinctions to determine if a duck is male or female.
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Instructions
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Look at the plumage of the duck. Often males are vivid and brightly colored, while females are more brown and drab in coloring.
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Examine the beak color of the duck. Like the plumage, the beak is often more brightly colored in the males.
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Look for curled tail feathers. The males will have curly feathers in the center of their tail during mating season.
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Listen to the adult ducks quack. Male ducks have a soft, quiet quack. Females have a loud and repeating "QUACK QUACK QUACK." The quack of the female is louder and clearer so that ducklings can hear their mom's calls and warnings.
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Consider the season when viewing wild ducks and determining their sex. In the summer, after mating, the males will molt all of their feathers and look more like the females. During this time they do not have flight feathers and are therefore better camouflaged for protection. This phase is called an eclipse plumage and only lasts a few weeks.
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