There are three main clues: the tail curl, the voice, and (sometimes) the coloring. A mature drake will often display one or more curled feathers right at the top of his tail. Drakes usually develop this feather when they get their adult plumage, around 8-12 weeks of age.

Mar 10, 2025 · This distinctive curl isn’t just for show; it’s a crucial visual signal in the duck world, often indicating maturity, health, and breeding readiness. Let’s dive deeper into the reasons behind this quirky feature and explore some frequently asked questions about it.

Jan 7, 2022 · In most duck breeds, drakes have curled, or upward-curved, feathers at the top of their tail. The curved feather or feathers typically appear when drakes are around 8 to 12 weeks old, although it can occur as early as 6 weeks of age.

Dec 20, 2013 · Once in a blue moon you might find a drake with three complete curls - meaning that there are actually six curled feathers. (I've only seen two of those in almost 40 years, so it isn't common.) I don't think the number of curls means anything. A mallard drake that's old enough to be moulted out is going to have a full set of curls.

Sexing a Duck by the Curl of its Tail The voice of a duck is the most accurate indicator of gender, but if a duck is out of earshot, or just plain refuses to talk, you can sometimes determine their sex by the appearance of their tail feathers.

Nov 6, 2022 · What does a curly tail on a duck mean? A mature drake will often display one or more curled feathers right at the top of his tail. Drakes usually develop this feather when they get their adult plumage, around 8-12 weeks of age. This handsome brown drake began to develop his tail curl at the tender age of 6 weeks… earning him the name Manly.

Apr 19, 2023 · Drake feathers are the curled, pointed feathers that sprout on male ducks’ tails. These feathers are a vital sign of a duck’s gender since they do not present in female ducks. Pekin ducks typically begin sprouting drake feathers …

Mar 10, 2025 · The most straightforward answer to “What bird has a curly tail?” is the male duck. Specifically, many species of male ducks, also known as drakes, develop one or more curled tail feathers as they reach maturity. This is often referred to as a “sex feather” due to its strong association with male gender and breeding displays.

Feb 11, 2020 · Its tail has white-bordered dark tail feathers. It usually has 2-4 black curl feathers. Not all ducks have a short tail. Some ducks have a long tail, such as the Scoter and the Eider. Some ducks have a tail that sticks up like a paint brush, such as …

The wing feathers provide all necessary clues, but the characteristics to ponder vary among species. So, let’s focus on the most widespread and commonly bagged ducks in North America: mallards. Here are the simplest methods to identify juvenile and …