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ID Please...Again

Discussion

3 replies
Posted by Ryan DesJardins on February 21, 2010 at 3:14 AM
ID Please...Again
I'm sorry...I haven't become very proficient at finding species in the bird books that I have at the moment, and this one eludes me.

This duck was on a frozen pond in St. John's Newfoundland in December.

Thanks, Ryan
Posted by Russell Hillis on February 21, 2010 at 7:24 AM
I think it's an American Black Duck
Posted by Gail Diane Yovanov on February 21, 2010 at 8:29 AM
Your duck looks like an American Black Duck/Mallard mix - quite common as these birds interbreed freely.
Posted by Drew Fulton on February 21, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Gail is right. This is a male hybrid between an American Black Duck and a Mallard. This hybridization was once thought to be a major factor in the decline of the Black Ducks in the 60s and 70s but the effect was overstated and likely plays only a small role in a now stable population.