Nature Photographers Network
This is the preserved archive of the original Nature Photographers Network. The community continues at naturephotographers.network.
Forums · Bird Photography

ID Please

Discussion

4 replies
Posted by Patrick O'Healy on July 5, 2012 at 1:38 AM
ID Please
This duck was photographed today at San Joaquin Wildlife Preserve in Irvine, CA. Cannot find it in my field guides. Any ideas?
Posted by SandyRichardsBrown on July 5, 2012 at 1:56 AM
Ducks interbreed easily, especially mallards with anything else.
Lord only knows the heritage of this one!
Sandy
Posted by Mia McPherson on July 5, 2012 at 12:08 PM
They are sometimes called "manky" ducks when the parentage is mixed. Mike Bergin at 10,000 Birds has some helpful articles on them, here is one: http://10000birds.com/manky-mallards-domestic-feral-or-just-plain-odd-mallards.htm You can do a search on "manky" there and more articles show up.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on July 5, 2012 at 11:10 PM
My ornithologist wife calls them Mutant Ducks, but yes, a hybrid (it's a birder pun to say hybird) of some kind.
Posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 15, 2012 at 7:47 AM
Hybird...I like that Jim!