The following is a description of the Aythya duck observed at Hat Rock
State Park on Friday, Sept 29 and Sunday, the 1st.
Size - 1 - 2 inches longer than a drake Ring-necked Duck, appeared
to have a long-waisted neck. Somewhat smaller than an Am Wigeon
lengthwise.
Beak - Bluish Grey with a dark nail. Overall beak concave. More
narrow than a Redheads and not as long as a Canvasbacks.
Head - orangey-rust in color down to upper breast. Entire nape,
sideneck and crown same color with nape slightly darker than rest of
head. The forehead sloped more than a Redhead but less than a
Canvasback.
Eye - Iris was orangey red - pupil dark. No noticable eye ring.
Upper chest - indestinct dark band at base of neck below rust. Faded
to a mottled brown with a hint of dark tones.
Flank - light grey tan with a buffy wash.
Mantle - darker than flanks, uniform or mottled depending on angle
of light.
Tail - appeared very short and no noticable retrices.
Vent - Gray buffy wash - close to flank color - not black.
Wings - Bar along terminal edge of secondaries at the tertials very
light grey graduating to a darker grey towards the primaries. Bar also
along terminal edge of primaries but much darker. Secondary coverts -
flat steel grey. Leading edge - same flat steel grey. Tertials appeared
somewhat darker than terminal band. All flight feathers present.
Observed this bird flying several times.
Behavior - observed feeding on algae and duckweed on surface - never
tipped or dove. Swallowed long strands of algae. Very wary - hard to
approach. Did not associate with other duck species on pond. When
flushed - flew a rapid direct flight low over water. Silent both on water
and flying. Wings did not create unusual sound in flight. Fed fairly
close to shoreline.
Any questions or comments - please contact Mike Denny at
dennme at wwc.edu or at 509-529-0080.