Hi Tweeters,

I have a bit of an id question. Yesterday I was at Juanita Beach in
Kirkland when I saw a duck that at first I assumed was a domestic
hybrid mallard. Mainly because it was co-mingling with other mallards
and hybrids. However upon closer inspection it started looking less
like a hybrid and more like a BLACK DUCK. Looking at my Sibley guide
indicates that the bird would be a real rarity for the Northwest. I
am a bit sceptical, so I took some photos and wanted to consult with
you all. The photos are at:

http://www.pipe2grep.com/~data/images/PRB/blackduck/103104/small/

If it is a black duck I am curious about the rarity of this bird in
this region. However if it is just some crazy hybrid mallard, or
something else, could you tell me what lead you to that conclusion and
where I went wrong with my ID.

Thanks,
/\aron /\/\artin
Seattle, WA
mailto:aamartin at gmail.com