?Wild duck, Laguna Vista, TX, USA (1 Viewer)

[River Girl]

This duck was with our resident Redhead this morning. The eyeline is striking but I cannot find a duck quite like it. Maybe domestic hybrid? Thank you.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello Rivergirl,

I agree with you, its a Mallard. And yes, a real/pure white ground-colour to the supercilium is a sign of domestic intogression in a pure "wild-type" Mallard.

Such birds are nearly regular present among "phaenotypic wild-type" Mallard flocks in Europe. I presume its the same in the US?

 

[River Girl]

Hello Rivergirl,

I agree with you, its a Mallard. And yes, a real/pure white ground-colour to the supercilium is a sign of domestic intogression in a pure "wild-type" Mallard.

Such birds are nearly regular present among "phaenotypic wild-type" Mallard flocks in Europe. I presume its the same in the US?

Probably also in NAm, just have not seen it. Thank you.

 

[nartreb]

This bird also floats with its butt very high in the water, which is very common among domestic ducks and geese.

A strong eye-stripe does show up in birds flocking with wild mallards in North America, but one this strong is rather rare. This bird would have caught my eye and I might have briefly entertained thoughts of pacific black duck or some such (would have to be a zoo escape, and various details aren't right anyway).

 

[Butty]

I might have briefly entertained thoughts of pacific black duck

Mallards (domestic or otherwise - ok, probably domestic) that remind one of that species are so common that it's worth ignoring the possibility.

 

[Microtus]

This bird also floats with its butt very high in the water, which is very common among domestic ducks and geese.

A strong eye-stripe does show up in birds flocking with wild mallards in North America, but one this strong is rather rare. This bird would have caught my eye and I might have briefly entertained thoughts of pacific black duck or some such (would have to be a zoo escape, and various details aren't right anyway).

I found a similar bird in Maryland last year and I too looked Pacific duck species.

 

[River Girl]

Thank you. I'll look at that.

 

[Ruff-Leg]

If you have a portable gene-sequencer / DNA analyzer with you, you might be in luck. 😁