Green-Headed Grey Hound

Mallard Hybrids

Mallards are notorious for procreating with other species of ducks, regardless of how different they look or act. This has led to a diverse group of hybrids across the US, from mallard-black duck hybrids to wood duck-mallard hybrids. On Kingswood Lake, an individual with a striking blue beak, green head, and hooked tail was spotted during the winter of 2025: a northern pintail-mallard hybrid. While hybrids are often infertile and cannot procreate, this male was nonetheless beautiful and may return to campus for winters to come! Fun Fact: Northern pintails are nicknamed “Grey Hounds of the Air” due to their aerodynamic flight capabilities, and mallards are nicknamed “Greenheads”!