3 Ways to Tell If a Duckling Is Male or Female

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Learn to identify a duckling's gender at various stages of development
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It can be difficult to tell the sex of a baby duck visually, as both male and female ducklings tend to look similar. Luckily, there are several easy ways to sex a baby duck. In this article, we’ll explain how to examine a duckling’s voice, plumage, and vent (also known as their cloaca) to determine their sex. These methods apply to most species of ducks, but there are some variations when it comes to physical characteristics, such as coloring. Read on to tell the sex of your baby ducks!

How to Sex Ducklings

Listen to the duckling’s voice. At around 2 weeks, female ducklings start quacking while males make softer, raspier noises. Inspect the duckling’s plumage, too. Males typically have more vibrant coloring and develop curled tail feathers. Females are usually duller in color and have straight tail feathers.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Identifying Sex Through A Duckling's Voice

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  1. Both male and female ducklings make similar peeping noises when they first hatch. Once they’re at least 2 weeks old, their voices start to sound different. So, wait at least 2 weeks before you start examining their calls. [1]
  2. Female ducklings are the ones that make the characteristic “quack” sound. They typically make 2 to 10 sharp, short quacks at a time. Their quacks grow louder and brasher as the female ducklings grow older. [2]
    • It may take some female ducklings as long as 8 weeks to start quacking properly.
  3. Male duckling voices are quite different from the quintessential female duck’s quack. Most species of male ducklings make quiet, scratchy calls that slowly develop to a monotone grumble as they grow older. [3]
    • Unlike their female counterparts, male ducks actually grow quieter as they grow older, which can sometimes make them harder to distinguish from females.
    • Male Muscovy ducks may hiss too, unlike female Muscovy ducks. So, listen for hissing noises as well.
    • To find out what other noises your particular species of ducklings can make , search for their calls online. For instance, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s list of duck calls .
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Sexing Ducklings via the Plumage

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  1. Although it is said that the easiest way to tell the difference between a male and a female duckling is their coloring and patterning, some species of male and female ducks have similarly colored feathers and bills. Research your breed of ducks online to see if there is a visual difference between the males and females. [4]
    • For instance, Mallard ducks are well known for the differences in plumage between males and females. On the other hand, male and female Mottled ducks look very similar. [5]
  2. Some species of ducklings have black and brown markings along with their characteristic yellow feathers. Male ducklings typically have some black feathering on their head or back while female ducklings usually have brown markings on their head and back. [6]
    • Ducklings typically develop their yellow downy feathers when they’re around 3 weeks old. [7]
    • Note : This method of sexing ducklings isn’t as accurate as inspecting their plumage when they start to mature and grow into adults, as male and female ducklings typically look very similar.
  3. Ornithologist Dr. Roger Lederer says that in general, male ducks are “more brightly colored than females.” They typically have more vibrant heads, chests, and patterning compared to their female counterparts.
    • Ducklings typically develop their adult feathers when they’re around 3 to 4 months old, which is when you can typically see differences between the sexes. [8]
    • For instance, a male Mallard duck has a rich, chocolate-colored chest, a white collar around his neck, and an emerald green head.
    • The male duck’s colorful feathers are purposeful—they use their feathers to attract a mate during mating season. The more flashy the duck, the more likely they'll find a mate!
  4. Unlike their male counterparts, female ducks tend to be more subdued and reserved in their coloring. Most species of female ducks have plumage that’s a mixture of brown and gray. Their bills are typically similar in color, though they sometimes have a splash of orange. [9]
    • For instance, a female Mallard duck is chestnut brown all over with a gray and orange bill.
    • Note : There is a great amount of variation in duck coloration. Dr. Lederer says it is “best to look the characteristics up in a field guide for specific differences.”
  5. Another difference between male and female ducks is how their feathers present themselves. At around 3 months old, the tail feathers on some species of male ducks start to curl upwards while the female ducks’ tail feathers stay completely flat. [10]
    • For instance, the drake tail feather is noticeable in Mallard ducks.
    • The drake feather resembles several of the duck's normal feathers that have curled up and back towards the duck.
  6. Generally, a female duck will grow in her feathers a lot quicker than a male, especially around the wings and the tail. Watch your ducklings as they grow and make a note of which ducklings exhibit feather growth first. These are likely the female ducklings. [11]
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Examining a Duckling's Vent

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  1. Venting a duckling or duck can potentially harm them, so be extremely careful if you intend to do this process yourself. If you're not experienced in venting ducks, it's best to visit a vet who will do it for you. [12]
    • Get the vet or someone experienced in venting to physically show you how to vent a duck. This is not a process that you should guess at.
  2. Pick up the duckling with one hand. Then, use your other hand to flip them upside down, keeping them in a firm but gentle grip so they don’t fall. You want the duckling’s feet to fall into their belly. [13]
    • Note : Work as quickly as possible. Don’t keep the duckling upside down for more than 20 seconds, as this can potentially hurt them.
    • Use your thumb to tuck in the duckling’s feet and keep them away from their bottom
    • Alternatively, work on a table to be more steady if you think the duckling will sit still.
  3. The vent (also known as the cloaca) is a small pink slit under the duckling's tail feathers that holds their genitals. Use your thumb to apply gentle pressure about 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm) below the duck's vent. [14]
    • The duck may accidentally excrete at this point. Just wipe it off and reapply the pressure.
  4. Use your index finger to gently tuck the duck's tail towards their back. Then, use your thumb and your other index finger to gently apply pressure on both sides of the vent. This inverts the vent and reveals the duck’s genitals. [15]
    • If you feel any pushback, let go for a few seconds. Then, press in once more.
    • If the cloaca doesn't invert, try applying pressure again until it does.
  5. If the duckling is male, a corkscrew-shaped penis will come out of the vent (cloaca). It can be pink, white, or even dark gray. If the duckling is female, you will only see a pair of vaginal lips. [16]
    • Male ducklings can hide their genitals in their vent, so they can be mistaken for females. You can always vent the ducks when they’re a little bigger to determine their sex.
  6. Let go of the duckling's vent and let the cloaca reorient. If it doesn't immediately go back to normal, gently rub near it to ease it back inwards. Then, put down the duckling. [17]

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    Where is the female duck's vent for mating? Is it on the back between her feathers?
    Olliie
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    The vent is just underneath the tail quiff. It is circular and resembles a outward belly button.
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      • For some duck species, you can tell apart males and females based on their size. For instance, male Muscovy ducks are usually noticeably larger than female Muscovy ducks. [18]
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      • Individual sex differences can vary from species to species, so always research your duck breed online for differences between males and females.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/N6zH4-so9W0?feature=shared&t=73
      2. ↑ https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/sounds#
      3. ↑ https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/sounds#
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/N6zH4-so9W0?feature=shared&t=130
      5. ↑ https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mottled_Duck/id
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/c0kqaA8balc?feature=shared&t=144
      7. ↑ https://www.wwt.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/from-egg-to-chick-how-eggs-hatch/
      8. ↑ https://www.wwt.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/from-egg-to-chick-how-eggs-hatch/
      9. ↑ https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/id
      1. ↑ https://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/domducks.htm
      2. ↑ https://www.raising-ducks.com/determining-muscovy-gender
      3. ↑ https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sexing-ducklings-please-check-here-first-d.181147/
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/uxoNaQtjb7M?feature=shared&t=47
      5. ↑ https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/sexing-ducklings-please-check-here-first-d.181147/
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/c0kqaA8balc?feature=shared&t=405
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/uxoNaQtjb7M?feature=shared&t=156
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/uxoNaQtjb7M?feature=shared&t=206
      9. ↑ https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Muscovy_Duck/id

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Telling the sex of your baby duck can be challenging, but there are a few simple methods that can help you figure it out. For example, 2 weeks after your ducklings are born, listen to their voices carefully. You’ll notice a female duck’s voice is similar to a quack while a male duck’s voice is more of a peep. If your breed of duck has a difference in plumage between the sexes, then you can identify the male by its colorful feathers while the female will have duller colors. Additionally, at around 3 months the male’s tail feathers may start to curl upwards whereas the female’s will stay completely flat. To learn how to examine a duckling’s vent to tell its sex, keep reading!

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