there are some different breeds.
Mallards are small and do fly and have the ring
French Rouens are larger and don't fly, and sometimes don't have the ring.
Rouens, with another name after, are also larger and don't fly but colors are more pale and the drakes have the ring.

It may not be a full mallard, rather one of the Rouen breeds. I used to breed them, and some of my drakes would have the ring and some would have a thin or partial ring.

Well, I got him at the river when he was a baby. He was with a full blooded female mallard and there were many other male mallards around. He is very short if that help s any. The link I sent was supposed to be a pic. but it didn't work. I'll try to send another one. How is it again when you send a pic. through the tinypic thing? Whioch link do you post here and what do you put before and after the link? Thanks

I believe it is the url link you click, but they should tell you when you first log on to the page.
If he is a full blood mallard, do you keep his wings clipped so he doesn't fly away?
If he is short, and skinny he is probably a full blood mallard, rouens are really fat.
It could be that he just wont get the ring. It shouldn't effect him at all though.
You can also do a search for mallard drakes, there are several duck sites out there with alot more information on them, than what I can offer.

All domestic duck breeds are Mallard derivitives, except the Muscovy. The Rouen is the same color as the Mallard, but there are different genes to make different varoeties of the gray Mallard (wild type) colors. I dont know any gene which eliminates the neck ring only, without eliminating other colors/markings; some just may not express the neck ring, it is there geneticaly.

http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=spvf40

http://i2.tinypic.com/spvf40.jpg

[IMG]http://i2.tinypic.com/spvf40.jpg[/IMG

{{gwi:37333}}

see if this works

Can yousee the picture now? That's Jamoca. The mallard I was asking the Q about. See how he doesn't have the ring around his neck??

I dont think I have ever seen one totally lacking a neck ring? How recent is that photo? other things seem different too, no wing speculum.

That pic was made about a month ago and he's 2 years old. He seems fine and healthy! I don't think nothing is wrong with him for him to be like this, he just doesn't have the ring around his neck. but, I just wonder why? What do you mean by 'no wing speculum'??

Here is another pic of him . It's not as good as the other one though.

{{gwi:37334}}

the wing speculum is an irredecent rainbow strip on the end of the wings. Looks to me like he could be part blue swedish? just my guess. defenitely domestic duck,not wild mallard.

No Swede, its a mallard; there are several genes which can change the wild color such as dusky(m^d);restricted(M^R)dark phase(L^i) and more. combined with other genes buffs, Khakis and all the othr duck colore are created. If there waS sWEDE HE WOULD HAvE BLUE(BL)to make a blue color, and (b) for recessive bib to make a white bib at the neck. gray (wild mallard type and 1 blue gene makes blue fawn., iys a bit complicated.

If anything that drake looks as he might be mixed uo with a Call due to his squat body type.