{"id":44084,"date":"2016-12-23T05:45:25","date_gmt":"2016-12-23T12:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=44084"},"modified":"2025-09-13T08:40:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T13:40:08","slug":"domesticated-mallard-with-a-hidden-face","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/12\/23\/domesticated-mallard-with-a-hidden-face\/","title":{"rendered":"Hidden Face On A Domestic Mallard"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HiddenHidden face on a Domestic Mallard’s bill – Nikon D500, f8, 1\/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Down at my local pond there are many wild and domesticated ducks and hybridization between the wild ducks and the domesticated ducks occurs frequently.<\/p>\n

I call those wild x domestic “manky mallards”. Even though I prefer photographing the wild ducks I will also take images of the domesticated ducks at times too, especially when they come up so close that I can take portraits of them.<\/p>\n

Ten days ago I photographed a manky mallard at my local pond and when I pulled images of it up on my monitor I discovered that it has a hidden face and once I saw it I couldn’t un-see it. Do you see it? Leave a comment if you do!<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good. Having an active imagination makes it even more interesting.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my domestic duck and waterfowl hybrid photos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ten days ago I photographed a manky mallard at my local pond and when I pulled images of it up on my monitor I discovered that it has a hidden “face” and once I saw it I couldn’t un-see it. Do you see it? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":155688,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,2363,709,26],"tags":[4237,5575,4142,2364,126,5573,5572,1604,5574,4046,2063],"class_list":["post-44084","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-domestic-ducks","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-utah","tag-anas-platyrhynchos","tag-anas-platyrhynchos-domesticus","tag-close-up","tag-domestic","tag-ducks-2","tag-hidden-face","tag-hybridized","tag-mallard","tag-manky-mallard","tag-portrait","tag-waterfowl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/domestic-mallard-mia-mcpherson-4357.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-bt2","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":45173,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/02\/22\/showcasing-manky-mallard-portraits\/","url_meta":{"origin":44084,"position":0},"title":"Showcasing Manky Mallard Portraits – They Are Oddly Beautiful","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 22, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Some people might call these manky mallards homely, weird or even downright ugly but I prefer thinking of them as oddly beautiful and believe they are worthy of being showcased once in a while.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Alert domestic Mallard portrait, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-domestic-portrait-mia-mcpherson-3108.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-domestic-portrait-mia-mcpherson-3108.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-domestic-portrait-mia-mcpherson-3108.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-domestic-portrait-mia-mcpherson-3108.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55217,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/12\/05\/resting-feral-domestic-mallard-with-an-eye-on-me\/","url_meta":{"origin":44084,"position":1},"title":"Resting Feral Domestic Mallard With An Eye On Me","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The only image I liked of the few I took yesterday afternoon was of this resting, feral domestic Mallard that appeared to be keeping an eye on me while it floated next to the shoreline of the pond.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Resting Mallard with an eye on me, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/domestic-mallard-resting-mia-mcpherson-2551.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/domestic-mallard-resting-mia-mcpherson-2551.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/domestic-mallard-resting-mia-mcpherson-2551.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/domestic-mallard-resting-mia-mcpherson-2551.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":55385,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/12\/22\/domestic-mallard-feather-details-up-close\/","url_meta":{"origin":44084,"position":2},"title":"Domestic Mallard Feather Details – Up Close","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I really can't pin down why I like this mallard photo and honestly I don't feel a need to figure out why I do. I simply do.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Domestic Mallard feather details, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-domestic-feather-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5948.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-domestic-feather-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5948.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-domestic-feather-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5948.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-domestic-feather-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5948.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":110126,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/02\/09\/calling-mallard-drake-in-the-city\/","url_meta":{"origin":44084,"position":3},"title":"Calling Mallard Drake In The City","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 9, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I enjoy photographing even the most abundant ducks at my local city ponds. I simply couldn't resist taking images of this calling Mallard drake two days ago.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Calling Mallard drake on an urban pond, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mallard-drake-open-bill-mia-mcphersonn-2002.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mallard-drake-open-bill-mia-mcphersonn-2002.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mallard-drake-open-bill-mia-mcphersonn-2002.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mallard-drake-open-bill-mia-mcphersonn-2002.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":78044,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/01\/20\/mallard-hen-on-slippery-ice\/","url_meta":{"origin":44084,"position":4},"title":"Mallard Hen On Slippery Ice","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week I took a series of photos of a Mallard hen as she landed on slippery ice at a pond close to home in Salt Lake City.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hen Mallard sliding on her belly on ice, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-hen-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-5488.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-hen-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-5488.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-hen-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-5488.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mallard-hen-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-5488.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109721,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/01\/19\/simply-a-duck-on-a-rock\/","url_meta":{"origin":44084,"position":5},"title":"Simply A Duck On A Rock","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 19, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I headed down to my neighborhood ponds yesterday morning while there was some sunshine and my favorite image of the day was simply a duck on a rock.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Mallard on a rock, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/mallard-drake-on-a-rock-mia-mcpherson-8489.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/mallard-drake-on-a-rock-mia-mcpherson-8489.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/mallard-drake-on-a-rock-mia-mcpherson-8489.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/mallard-drake-on-a-rock-mia-mcpherson-8489.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44084"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44084\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}