Subject: [Tweeters] Re: Black Duck @ Juanita Beach, Kirkland WA
Date: Nov 1 18:03:09 2004
From: Charlie Wright - c.wright7 at comcast.net
Greetings Aaron and all:
This duck appears to be an "almost" American Black Duck, phenotypically at
least. The cold blackish body feathers with thin pale fringes are great, in
addition to that classic speculum.
However, the black speckled pattern on the bill suggests a probable Mallard
parent somewhere in this bird's lineage. Besides that mark, the breast
pattern to me seems slightly wrong, with more contrasting buff than Black
Ducks should really have. Pure Black Ducks don't usually show so much
contrast. The silvery-edged tertials are perhaps also a Mallard feature.
This all leads me to suspect it isn't a pure American Black Duck.
Nonetheless a very interesting bird to be sure. Thanks for posting.
Cheers
Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington
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