Male vs Female Ducks
It is highly evident that males look more colourful than the females, which triggers a sensation that males are more attractive than females. That sensation may or may not be acknowledged depending on the observer’s perspective. However, there is a sensible scientific explanation for males to be prettier than females; the possession of most wanted sexual organ in ladies has demanded the gentlemen to be attractive and strong with a great personality to the level best. Ducks are no different from this phenomenon, but specialities about ducks when it comes to males and females, are discussed in this article.
Male Duck (Drakes)
These easily distinguishable male ducks are commonly known as Drakes. Drakes have a colourful plumage, especially during the breeding season. There are more than 120 species of ducks, and that means that there are more than 120 variations of contrasting colours among them. Out of all those colourations, most of them have green colour heads or head regions. In addition, it is important to note the white coloured ring around their neck. Usually, the drake is larger than 1.2 – 1.5 times of a female duck; hence, the weight is also higher in males than in females. They have a special sexual probe, which is an extended or elongated genital organ. It would be important to notice that there is a significant curl in one of the thousands of feathers, which is found around the vent of the drake. The curled feather is prominent, usually coils down in a unique way and is called as the sex feather.
Drakes do not take part in making houses or nests, and they only live with a particular female for about one or two mating seasons. Drakes have a soft and harsh displaying call that is typically a quack, but sometimes it could vary from a sharp whistle, a cooing, or a grunt. Sometimes, their quacks could be mistaken for rooster calls. However, males of some duck species such as Dabbling Ducks never quack. It would be interesting to know that most of the northern drakes have highly conspicuous colours that are comparable with the more-female-like southern drakes.
Female Duck
Female ducks are sometimes known as hens while others refer them as ducks. Since they have their most wanted and highly competitive sexual organ, female ducks did not have to adapt with a special breeding plumage composed of contrasting colours. In fact, their plumages are brown or ashy coloured and vary very slightly among different species. Female ducks have varieties of speckled brown colourations. However, there is one species called the Paradise Shelduck in New Zealand, with a very bright female plumage and a dull male plumage. Juveniles of the ducks, ducklings, usually resemble the colourations of female ducks. These dull coloured females are small and lightweight adults. They do not have a sex feather, but there is a cone-like genital organ. The loud quack call of females can easily overhear the calls of the male.
What is the difference between Male and Female Ducks?
• Male ducks are more colourful than female ducks.
• Males are larger and heavier than the females.
• Male ducks are known as drakes while females are referred as hens or ducks.
• Males have a prominent sex feather on the tail but not in females.
• Females have loud and distinctive quack but the males have softer and harsher quack.
• Males have an extended or elongated genital organ whereas females have a cone-like genital organ.