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Duck Question
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Duck Question
- From: StevePath1@aol.com
- Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2001 22:01:25 EDT
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Hello Again,
About every other day for the past week I have had a flock of about 15-20
mallards coming into the backyard in the mornings to eat what ever the
passerines and doves throw to the ground under the feeders. Admixed with this
flock is a much darker duck that is slightly larger than the mallards with a
slightly longer, more pointed tail. Once I thought I glimpsed a violet wing
patch, but today with overcast skies and poor lighting conditions the
inconspicuous wing patch appeared somewhat green. I thought this might be an
American Black Duck, but when I got a decent look at its throat today with
the spotting scope, the throat was not streaked. When the ducks took off
flying, I could not make out any white under the wings, though I did not get
an excellent look at the under wings, as I was standing about 20 feet above
the ducks. Also, the dark duck was somewhat obscured by being in the center
of the flock of mallards, when they took off flying. The bill of the dark
duck was not uniformly yellow either. My impression at this point is that
this may represent a hybrid between an American Black Duck and a Mallard.
However, I also wonder if this may represent an alternate plumage for an
American Black Duck, since the male mallards are looking much like the
females at this time. Any thoughts would be welcome.
This issue made me consider another question that I do not believe I have
seen discussed. If someone sees a hybrid bird and is keeping a list either
personally or as part of a count, does a hybrid bird count as a separate bird
or does it get lumped in with the more abundant of its parent species or the
less abundant of its parent species? Thanks.
Steve Tracy
Gastonia, NC
stevepath1@aol.com