Ruddy Duck or Bluebill (1 Viewer)

[Belvide Birder]

I found this drake Ruddy Duck at Belvide today which I presumed was the dark headed varient (ferruginea) There has been another suggestion that it might be an Argentine Bluebill. However I feel that the black on the neck is not extensive enough for Bluebill and the Belvide bird had 2 bumps on top of the crown as in a breeding male Ruddy Duck, There is no mention of this feature in the wildfowl book (madge/burn) for Bluebill. Any further comment on this bird would be welcome.

 

[wee kayso]

Confusing Hybrid,ferruginous-ruddy Duck, Type,what About Andean Ruddy Duck,escapee Or Something.....

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Not familiar with the bluebill. It looks a lot like a masked duck, but I'm not sure the white undertail is right.

 

[Microtus]

Where is Belvide?

 

[Belvide Birder]

Belvide is a Reservoir in Staffordshire, England.

 

[Steve Turner]

I found this drake Ruddy Duck at Belvide today which I presumed was the dark headed varient (ferruginea) There has been another suggestion that it might be an Argentine Bluebill. However I feel that the black on the neck is not extensive enough for Bluebill and the Belvide bird had 2 bumps on top of the crown as in a breeding male Ruddy Duck, There is no mention of this feature in the wildfowl book (madge/burn) for Bluebill. Any further comment on this bird would be welcome.
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Hi Steve

Interesting bird, not too sure what it is personally, but based on your description I'd probably go with a dark headed variant Ruddy.
You could try PM'ing Johern Lehmus, he's the resident wildfowl expert on this forum.

Cheers
Steve