Posted by bill meikle on November 30, 2009 at 1:08 PM
this bird was on its own, I filmed it just for ID, thought it was a female mallard but it has a two tone beak, seems odd to me, thoughts?
Colorado.
Common ducks here right now are mallard, wigeon, ring-beaked, green winged teal.
Posted by Ron Bielefeld on November 30, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Bill, I believe this is a spot-billed duck. Hard to see the details well, but I am pretty sure on the ID.
Posted by bill meikle on December 1, 2009 at 5:44 AM
Wow, its not even in Sibley! That's cool. Thanks Ron. This might be slightly clearer. Wish I'd taken the time to take a better shot.
Posted by George Secor on December 1, 2009 at 4:54 PM
Bill
A couple of things you might consider before you settle on spot-billed for the ID. The native range of the SB is SE Asia, so seeing one in Colorado while not impossible is unlikely. The bill coloration of the SB is generally yellow/black, not orange/black. The spaculums on the SB are green, not blue. The Indian race of SB's has an orange triangular patch at the base of the bill. Finally, that much black on the bill of a hen mallard while not common, is not impossible.
George Secor
Englewood, CO
Posted by bill meikle on December 1, 2009 at 7:09 PM
George, good comments, I did compare the colors of the bill and feathers with an online photo of a Spot-billed duck and they are pretty close. They do get into Alaska and have no spots on their bills. Another expert birder is not sure if it isn't a hybrid Mallard/Spot-billed so we'll see what they come up with.
I don't think we are looking at the true Asian version of a Spot-billed and I'm open to all comments that will throw light on its identity.
For now we'll call it a Spallard!
Posted by Luke Ormand on December 3, 2009 at 12:53 AM
I think it's just a mallard with a funky bill - just like this one.
Discussion
5 repliesColorado.
Common ducks here right now are mallard, wigeon, ring-beaked, green winged teal.
A couple of things you might consider before you settle on spot-billed for the ID. The native range of the SB is SE Asia, so seeing one in Colorado while not impossible is unlikely. The bill coloration of the SB is generally yellow/black, not orange/black. The spaculums on the SB are green, not blue. The Indian race of SB's has an orange triangular patch at the base of the bill. Finally, that much black on the bill of a hen mallard while not common, is not impossible.
George Secor
Englewood, CO
I don't think we are looking at the true Asian version of a Spot-billed and I'm open to all comments that will throw light on its identity.
For now we'll call it a Spallard!