There was a duck in our pond a couple of days ago and I could not get a photo of it, but I did get a fairly good look with binoculars, first of all it it not a Mallard as we have two pairs of them, the best I can describe it, looks like a canvassback duck, except the body is all light gray, I did not notice the tail feathers as having black in them either, the head was dark and saw no noticeable band around its neck, it had a funny head movement when it swam, the head moved back and forth like a morning dove walking.
Sorry I was unable to get a photo, but will keep my eyes open and camera at the ready and if it ever shows up again maybe I can post it.
Thanks Craig
Craig
Everything has its' beauty,
but not everyone sees' it
Hello Craig...
I hope you can get a photo of this bird, from your description, I think this is probably a coot or moor hen, they pump their heads while swimming.
I also saw a very strange duck (?) walking across the road today, stopping traffic. Looked thru my bird books and cannot find it. It was about 18" tall, waddled like a duck, had webbed feet and was majorly pigeon-toed. Problem is, it was all black, even it's feet. its head had an iridescense (sp?) to it that looked very dark teal to emerald green in the sunlight, but it was definately black, not showy green like a Mallard. Odd thing was that it had some big tuft on its head that looked to me like a small fuzzy cabbage of feathers. Ok, bad description there, but it was my first thought. Looked up Coots, and the feathers on it's head were more defined and rounded than what I saw on the Coot. What the heck is this thing? It sure was awesome looking and now I sure wish I had a picture of it .. was too busy watching and wondering what it was.
Vickie
Vickie welcome to B&B.
I can't wait to see a picture of your bird. It sounds neat.
Janis
Usually when you see a duck that doesn't fit any of the photos in a guide book it's because it's either an escapee from some place that raises exoxtic ducks or it's a mallard hybrid - those mallards will mate with anything that sits still!
grannyfarmer: Usually when you see a duck that doesn't fit any of the photos in a guide book it's because it's either an escapee from some place that raises exoxtic ducks or it's a mallard hybrid - those mallards will mate with anything that sits still!
And that is exactly what this bird is grannyfarmer - either an escapee or a released bird from someones collection.
Mark
Bastrop, TX
I have no vices - -Wine,Women and Song are necessities of life!
- - -Anonymous - - -
I still think it might be an immature coot...they are gray and pump their heads.
Not likely. The only wild Muscovy Ducks accepted by any ornithologist in North America are in a very few isolated pockets along the Rio Grande River between Brownsville and Laredo. Even "Muscovy" that are found in Houston, Austin, San Antonio and others are considered escaped pet or feral birds, not true Muscovy, so I would be very suspicious of any claimed Muscovy off the Rio.
Was just browzing through when I read Vickies description of the duck she saw. Any chance it was a crested variety or cross with the domestic the Black East Indies duck?
Try googling that breed. In the sunlight they are very striking. A black bill and black feet are characterisitc of the breed as well.
I am not much up on identifying bird species but the description brought this duck to mind.
Fred in MT Zn 4/5
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