Re: ID of Adelphi Pond Duck

JD & Barbara (e-tbird@Juno.com)
Sat, 30 Jan 1999 20:48:21 -0500


Thank you!...your description is right on.  JD said he noticed the 
white duck following the morph around, while I was busy handing
the kids bread.  That explains why it wasn't in any of the books 
at the library.  He is beautiful !!!
Barbara
_______________________________________________________
On Sat, 30 Jan 1999 20:01:11 -0500 J L Saba <saba@ari.net> writes:
>I saw that duck on the winter count. It looks like a mallard (except 
>for
>color), and quacks like a mallard (walks like one too). It even has 
>the
>curly tail feather seen on male mallards. Eyes, legs, feet and bill 
>are
>black. Entire body appeard to have the same irridescent color as a
>mallard's head, brightest on head and neck, not as bright on the
>undersides, which appeared dead black when not shining. Wings were
>irridescent blue/purple (I have trouble distinguishing these colors) 
>in
>part. No light colors seen anywhere, although I didn't see all of the
>underside. It appeared to be mated to the one white duck on the pond. 
>I
>had assumed it was some weird mallard color morph. Its shape showed 
>(to
>me) no hint of any other species.
>
>Jack Saba
>
>JD & Barbara wrote:
>> 
>> Hi MDOsprey,
>> Family went to the Duck Pond in Adelphi West of Md U.
>> Saw an irridescent green duck w/ black bill, mallard size.
>> Anyone ever see it?  Is it a domesticated duck?  Yesterday saw
>> 60+ Canada Goose and several M/F Mallards.  At Hyattsville
>> Library  went through all the birding books available with no luck.
>> Any ideas?
>> 
>> Barbara
>> Riverdale MD
>