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Bill on Downy is about 1.5 times the size of the eye. The bill on the Hairy is about 3 times the size of the eye. (My estimates.) The Hairy is also larger than the Downy but, without some reference point in the photo, the bill is a better identifier.
I am suggesting Great Blue Heron based upon its size in relationship to the piling on the dock. It appears, to me, to be too large for a Little Blue Heron. Body shape also suggests Great Blue Heron. Bird is in shadow so cannot rely on coloration.
Not native to North America. I see that it is banded. Was this bird in captivity? Zoo? Escapee maybe?
Liam, great input as usual. As neither the Rosy-billed Pochard nor the Wood Duck is endemic to Europe, do you have any thoughts as to how this hybridization occurred? Intentionally done in captivity?
The blue color is interesting but not as unusual as I had thought after looking at some other spottings. What is interesting to me is: What are these birds doing on a small pond in Switzerland? As you mentioned other escapees, I am assuming that the Wood Ducks are as well. But, if they are hybrids, were they bred as hybrids? In North America a hybrid Wood Duck is unusual but in Switzerland it would seem to be very rare if not intentionally done in captivity.
Sorry, I don't mean to hog the comments but I found another spotting that does show a large amount of blue on the wings. Maybe they are not hybrids after all. See: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/885...
As a follow-up, it is possible that the ducks are wood duck hybrids but what they may be crossed with is beyond me. The heads are very Wood Duck like but the male, especially, has too much blue on its wings for a pure Wood Duck. Maybe someone else will offer more info.
I am suggesting that these are a male (1) and a female (2) Wood Ducks. Wood Ducks are a North American species and vagrants have only been reported as far as Iceland. Likely the birds you saw were escapees. Also, their coloration is very "rough" compared to what you see on typical wood ducks which are very beautiful birds. If you look at Google images or other photos on Project Noah you will see what I mean. These are interesting photos you have.
Matches the boardwalk very well - "Hide in plain sight." I wonder what it would do on a piece of purple paper . . .
