Duck ID Please

mightymaiden · #1 (**permalink**) 20-11-2011, 07:53 PM

Any idea what this duck is?? It was taken at Martin Mere WWT. Is it a mallard hybrid or possibly and escaped pen duck??

Cheers

Martin

RobinV · #2 (**permalink**) 20-11-2011, 08:47 PM

Sorry, cant identify the species from the picture, but it looks like it is a 'blonde' colour mutation or similar.
It is more than likely to be one of their captive collection

Oy · #3 (**permalink**) 20-11-2011, 08:50 PM

I've seen this quacker at MM a lot recently - hybrid mallard is my take.

mightymaiden · #4 (**permalink**) 20-11-2011, 09:09 PM

Bloody hell dave, you get around dont you lmao. Cheers for that guys thought it would be.

RoyW · #5 (**permalink**) 21-11-2011, 04:14 AM

I can't see the detail clearly enough in the photo. It probably is a domestic Mallard, or perhaps a hybrid of one - what I can see of the bill might suggest Spot-billed Duck.

aeshna5 · #6 (**permalink**) 21-11-2011, 04:53 AM

It's certainly not a clear image + not one I'd care to put a name to but the plumage doesn't look like a Spotbill to me. Doesn't look like a pure wild species from what I can see- but it is a poor image.

RoyW · #7 (**permalink**) 21-11-2011, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aeshna5

It's certainly not a clear image + not one I'd care to put a name to but the plumage doesn't look like a Spotbill to me. Doesn't look like a pure wild species from what I can see- but it is a poor image.

I agree. The overall plumage makes me certain that it is at least part, if not fully, domestic Mallard. It's just the apparently black bill with what seems to be a yellow patch near the tip that looks a bit Spot-bill like (and a sharper photo might show that to be within normal variation of Mallard).