trying to identify a black duck with a green head

[p1umb]

Hi,
I went to Coombe Abbey nr Coventry today with my nephews, whilst going around the lake we saw a black duck with a green head and an iridescent blue tinge to it's neck. The green head wasn't dissimilar to a Mallard although that was where the similarity ended. Sizewise it was about twice the size of a Mallard and half the size of a Greylag goose. It's tail also had a couple of curls to it. Unfortunately we haven't been able to identify it on any web sites we have been to.
If anyone has any suggestions then we would be very grateful.
Thankyou.

[aeshna5]

It's a domestic variety- probably one of the meat bred varieties. The fact you describe the 2 tail curls shows it's male domestic type Mallard. These birds can be quite confusing for the unwary and very variable in size, shape and pattern.

[Synn]

Possibly an escaped Cayuga duck?
Cayuga Duck - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[p1umb]

thankyou for your quick responses, without a doubt it was a Cayuga duck, very striking and unusual with the sun relecting off it's stunning plumage.
thanks again.

[jamesthornton]

I was at Coombe on Friday and saw this Duck! It was paired with a pure white duck interestingly.

[p1umb]

this site explains the pairing with a pure white female.
cayuga Ducks / Domestic waterfowl Club

[aeshna5]

They are all basically domestic Mallards so no problem interbreeding, though Mallard are also good at mixing with other species too.

[RoyW]

Originally Posted by aeshna5

They are all basically domestic Mallards so no problem interbreeding, though Mallard are also good at mixing with other species too.

Yes, all different types of Mallard in the same way that different breeds of dog all look very different but can generally interbreed.
Most (but certainly not all) domestic Mallards seen "in the wild" tend to show a mix of characters rather than being 'pure' breeds. In this case, if the entire plumage of the bird (including the body) didn't have the same iridescent green colour it won't have been a 'pure' Cayuga (and if the entire body was iridescent green it still may not have been pure!).

[Hobjob]

Domestic or Manky Mallards

Has great pictures of all these 'I thought I had found this rare duck'.