Subject: Not a wood duck
Date: Jun 8 08:04:51 2000
From: Greg Toffic - greg.toffic at zoo.org


Jacki and Tweeters,
Your photo is of a female mandarin duck, NOT a wood duck. They are closely related, being the only two species within the genus Aix. The key is the shape of the bill base and the shape of the white surrounding the eye and trailing the eye. Mandarin duck, not a native species , is illustrated in the National Geo. guide. Notice that mandarin duck has a thin, crisp, line of white trailing behind the eye whereas wood duck has a more diffuse line of white. Also note that the base of the bill of mandarin duck is squared off while wood duck's bill has a point between the nares and eye. Otherwise female and eclipse male wood ducks and Mandarin ducks are superficially similar.



Greg

Greg Toffic
Curator of Birds
Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Avenue N.
Seattle, WA 98103
(206)684-4836 PH
(206)233-7278 FAX
greg.toffic at zoo.org

"Metaphors be with you"

>>> "Jacki Bricker" <seaotter at eskimo.com> 06/08 12:31 AM >>>

Tweets,

It's been brought to my attention that sending an attachment
broad-band--regardless of size--is against the rules of this newsgroup. I
was aware that it was generally considered bad netiquette, but I was unaware
of any "official policy" as such. As I said, I wouldn't ordinarily have
thought to do it, except that I had no ability to stick the photos up on the
web at this time.

In retrospect (and in future similar situations), I should have (and will)
send out a request for help, and will email attachments (again, reduced to
save bandwidth, of course) off line to individuals willing to receive them.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused anyone.

And, incidentally--thank you to those who responded to me, letting me know
that the photo was a female wood duck. I appreciated your help greatly.

-Jacki Bricker
Woodinville, Washington