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Mallard

Anas platyrhynchos

Description:

Some Kind If Duck :)

Habitat:

Near A Pond

Notes:

With Several Other Ducks With Blue Faces

Species ID Suggestions



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17 Comments

meganhartson
meganhartson 11 years ago

No what threw me off was the blue faces thing. But yes mallards as other ducks flock up with each other so its hard to tell with the hens. I guess I didn't think of that at the time.

Liam
Liam 11 years ago

This is a Mallard hen. Blue-winged Teals are much more compact and paler with a white patch by the bill. The bill is black on this bird, which Mallard don't always show, and that may be what threw you all off, but the white tail makes this a Mallard without a doubt.

I've been looking this up some more, the Garganey is quite rare in USA and the female Garganey is very similar to the Blue-winged Teal, which should show more blue, but it could be in eclipse plumage (moulting).
By the way, when Mallards go into eclipse their heads appear dark blue in certain lighting conditions.

I'm pretty sure this is actually a Garganey with the dark line through the eye and a pale spot by the bill.

evenlake
evenlake 11 years ago

Emma- Agreed. I've deleted my suggestion. I'm more inclined to think mallard now, after looking at a couple more of my field guides.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

evenlake, a blue winged teal would have a whitish area at the base of the bill.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 11 years ago

http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/101...
Andrea ,here is a female Mallard.

AndreaDavis2
AndreaDavis2 11 years ago

Oh I Have No Idea, I Was Looking At The Pattern Around The Eyes.. I Didn't Even Notice The Color Of The Bill. I'll See If I Can Find Some Other Photos On My Camera To Help. Thanks!

evenlake
evenlake 11 years ago

It's definitely a female. Mallard females usually have yellow bills, and male mallards have green heads, not blue. But, you're the one who saw them, so if you think they were mallards, it's your call.

AndreaDavis2
AndreaDavis2 11 years ago

I Looked At Photos Inline & I'm Thinking It's A Female Mallard Because Of The Black Streaks On The Eyes.. & The Male Mallard Looks A Lot Like I Described.

evenlake
evenlake 11 years ago

Definitely not a mallard. I think it's a blue-winged teal.

AndreaDavis2
AndreaDavis2 11 years ago

Sorry About That. I Meant To Say That This Duck Pictured Was With Several Other Ducks That Had Blueish Faces/Necks/Bills.. This Duck Obviously tDoes Not Have The Blueish Face. Others Suggest That This One Is Female & The Others Were Male But I Don't Know Anything About Ducks *lol
-I Appreciate The Help! :)

meganhartson
meganhartson 11 years ago

I guess it does have a little white but the bill should have more yellow or orange in it wouldn't you think to be a mallard?

meganhartson
meganhartson 11 years ago

Yes but in the notes she explains blue faces. Maybe she means blue bills? She would have to explain it more in depth. And its not a mallard because it doen't have the white bars. Maybe its a black duck?

Arun
Arun 11 years ago
evenlake
evenlake 11 years ago

Blue wing teal looks good, but can't see the white eye rings in this photo.

meganhartson
meganhartson 11 years ago

Blue faces? Maybe its a Blue wing teal? Males have a darker colored head with a stripe of white just before the beak.

AndreaDavis2
Spotted by
AndreaDavis2

Ohio, USA

Spotted on May 29, 2012
Submitted on Jun 6, 2012

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