A beautiful shot of a fascinating duck, Ronnie. Scaup x Black-bellied Whistling Duck? Or Scaup x Redhead? If you haven't, you should report it to the local Audubon Chapter.
Posted by Luke Ormand on July 31, 2010 at 12:31 AM
I think it has to be 1/2 BBWD based on that red bill which I can't think of being present on any other species of duck... I guess the scaup/ring necked would be up for debate and would be hard to conclude.
Posted by Nate Chappell on July 31, 2010 at 12:55 AM
It looks fairly similar to the Rosy-billed Pochard, a South American species which is in the same genus as scaup and Ring-necked Duck. The shape of the beak looks a little bit different though. They are kept in duck collections in the US. This species also has a gray side not a white one.
Red-crested Pochard and one of the scaup? The beak and shape of the head look pretty similar to a Red-crested Pochard whereas the colors are more like a scaup. I would be surprised if a whistling duck and a scaup would interbreed, whereas the pochards and scaup are in the same genus which I would think would make interbreeding much more likely.
Posted by Richard Ditch on July 31, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Pochard immediately comes to mind for me as at least one of the parents. Red-crested are kept at one of the zoos around Phoenix, and I've seen the species on the lose in New Jersey as well.
Posted by Luke Ormand on July 31, 2010 at 11:36 AM
I did some googling and came across this comprehensive duck hybrid "database" by Dave Appleton
Here is an example of a Pochard X Rosybill which is similar but note the big knob and coloration of the bill
Posted by Ron Bielefeld on August 1, 2010 at 5:54 PM
I too doubt a BBWD would mate with a Pochard, Ringer, or Scaup. This is most likely Rosybill hybrid with a scaup. Hybrids can show so much variation. Just because it does not show any knob means nothing really.
Posted by Luke Ormand on August 1, 2010 at 7:35 PM
Ron,
That's a valid point. I know nothing about the BBWD and had never even heard of a Pochard or a Rosybill so shows what I know!
Discussion
9 replieshttp://www.pbase.com/ronnie_14187/image/73572696
Whatever it is, it's truly gorgeous - one of the best hybrids (or hybirds as I prefer) I've seen.
- Luke
Here is an example of a Pochard X Rosybill which is similar but note the big knob and coloration of the bill
That's a valid point. I know nothing about the BBWD and had never even heard of a Pochard or a Rosybill so shows what I know!