I don't know of any domesticated duck that has a dark bill and dark legs; they also have bill and legs similar to wild-type mallard (except for the white breeds, with orange bill and legs). This is truly a mystery, because all of the black, duck-like birds I know either have light bills (e.g. American Coot, Scoters), or areas of non-black (e.g. Scaup, Ring-Necked Duck). The only all-black, swimming bird that comes to mind is a Pelagic Cormorant, but those have a very different profile than a duck.
Jason Hernandez
Bremerton
jason.hernandez74 at yahoo.com


Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2015 19:28:24 +0000 (UTC)
From: Hal Michael <ucd880 at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Black duck like bird with Mallards
To: Carolyn Finder Heberlein <cf47 at uw.edu>
Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Message-ID:
??? <1732199644.4118651.1444937304176.JavaMail.zimbra at comcast.net>
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A true Black Duck has feet, legs, and bill similar to a Mallard. Sounds more like a domestic derivative of some sort.



Hal Michael
Science Outreach Director, Sustainable Fisheries Foundation
Olympia WA
369-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
ucd880 at comcast.net

----- Original Message -----

I was at Greenlake on Tuesday morning about 8 am and saw a totally black bird with the mallards. Feathers were black, beak was black, legs and feet were dark. This was along the shore near the boat rental / coffee shop.

What is it? American Black Duck isn't here. Also the photos don't look as dark as the bird that I saw.

I will have to start carrying my camera with me on my early morning walks.

Carolyn Heberlein Seattle WA