Wood duck? Or something else?

R.W 07/03/2021 15:10

Hi,

I saw this duck today among a large group of Mallards in North Lincolnshire, but not sure what it is? Having googled, the closest I can see is maybe a Wood Duck. I'm not really a bird watcher but interested in all wildlife while out walking. So would be happy if anyone can advise me on what this is? There were a few other people looking, taking photos too and no one seemed really sure what it was. Its not a great photo, sorry.Can anyone help?

Many thanks,

Rich.

0 rspbailey 07/03/2021 15:20

Looks like a female Wood Duck to me - the feathers on the head being wet therefore looking flatter here,

It'll be an escapee from a collection.
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0 R.W 07/03/2021 15:30 in reply to rspbailey

Thanks. The head was definitely green and couldn't see any tufts at all, do females have green on the head? We were watching it for ages and couldn't see any tufts at all. Thanks again for your help.
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0 i love robins 07/03/2021 15:37

Not 100% sure but the two birds at the front and the two to the left i think are Garganey a migratory bird wintering in Africa they are a summer visitor from April to Sept and if so they are a month early. The other option is a Teal. Don't take my opinion wait for others to reply I have been wrong too many times before.
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0 R.W 07/03/2021 15:46 in reply to i love robins

Thanks for input. The Green was clear down the middle to back of the head rather than the patch around the eye that teal often have. The other really noticeable thing was the clear white circle round both eyes, but just a circle not a stripe. Thanks again for help.
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0 i love robins 07/03/2021 16:06 in reply to R.W

Your welcome R.W, still learning, some you win some you lose. I looked at the wood duck and can see the similar eye marking to the wood duck.
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0 HAZY 07/03/2021 16:22

The green is throwing me too so wondering if the duck could be an eclipsed male wood duck (if you scroll down through pics on the link HERE) but hasten to add I'm not an expert.

I think the other ducks are female mallards except for the drake mallard at the top right. Our experts like Rob or Seymouraves will put you right with a more exact ID.
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0 R.W 07/03/2021 16:49 in reply to HAZY

Thanks Hazel,
thats really helpful. Looking at the pics, that eclipsed male seems the closest fit definitely except the beak was light but I guess that can vary from bird to bird maybe. As suggested in first response, it was maybe an escapee since from what I've read today they are not native in UK.
Many thanks for your help
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0 seymouraves 07/03/2021 17:30

Hi

first off- your photo is fine- any photo - even a bad one is better than none :

the four birds at the back are all Mallards- obvious nice male and three female types- same size, purple speculum on wing correct bill colour etc.

:)

The nearer bird looks like a Wood duck male but not in full plumage - immature male would be my guess on available evidence. Eclipse is most unlikely as that takes place in late summer and the photo was taken today :)

S
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0 R.W 07/03/2021 17:35 in reply to seymouraves

Perfect, thankyou. Glad this seems to be cleared up. Is it then pretty much certain to be an escapee or could it be an unusual wild one?
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+1 Richard G B 07/03/2021 17:46 in reply to R.W

There are a few Wood Ducks in the wild, they turn up here and there.
As said it's 4 Mallards, 1 male and 3 female at the back, and a female Wood Duck at the front.
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