http://stubird.dreamhost.com/HybridDuckCollage.jpg (http://stubird.dreamhost.com/HybridDuckCollage.jpg)
What do you think?
I think this is a "Brewer's duck", in fact a Gadwall (Anas strepera) X Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos).
Also check these pages:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/BoA/F39_G4c.html (http://www.audubon.org/bird/BoA/F39_G4c.html)
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/photos.htm (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/photos.htm)
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/brdu.htm (http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/brdu.htm)
(http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/photos/BrewerJWM640a.jpg)
I'm not an expert as you both are, but when I see this bird, it really makes me think of Siberian Teal. Can some of you explain why the birds gets such a pale throath, which both Mallard and Gadwall lack?
I should have mentioned the size of the first one, slightly bigger than Greenwinged Teal.... ;)
here is a similar one from Europe: Reported to be a little larger than the female teal it was with.
http://www.artportalen.se/artportalen/gall...x?obsid=8751187 (http://www.artportalen.se/artportalen/gallery/image.aspx?obsid=8751187)
I think falcated x something because of the elongated feathers on the back (tertiaries).
The body looks a bit like a Gadwall or an (American) Wigeon. The bill looks rather big; combined with the small size of the bird and the pale part of the head running up in front of the eye, I would think of Blue-winged Teal as the other parent. But I have really no idea.
The bill is a clue in my opinion...The wing pattern of the bird in the second link I gave also hints to Bluewinged Teal...
also the rear end and the tertials and scapulars in the first link would fit for a Bluewinged teal hybrid...
So i think Anas discors is indeed part of the answer!
but the other duck must have grey flanks and small size and also characteristic head pattern, which is partly also visible in the hybrid ,
so I think the other species involved is Anas crecca/carolinensis,
which has grey flanks , small size
and has also some resemblance with the head pattern of the hybrid( white lines in face patter and the dark patch over the eye is in shape like the green one of crecca)
A tendency to Baikal-teal-like face pattern occurs in crecca/carolinensis (Wintertaling/americanse wintertaling)--- there is a hybrid of Wintertaling x Pijlstaart on Jan Hartemans website which shows this nicely.
The rounded head is also good for a hybrid with crecca/carolinensis Teals.
do these thoughts sound logical?