Re: Unidentified Duck

Edward Jendrek (aj97@bellatlantic.net)
Mon, 01 Feb 1999 11:06:33 +0000


Could it be a female Goldeneye? Don't know about head structure, but bills on
females can be all yellow.

Brian Monk

Paul Woodward wrote:

> HELP!
>
> Saw a duck Sunday January 31 which I could not identify feeding with a small
> flock of Buffleheads upstream from Sycamore Landing before the west end of
> Maddux Island .  It was larger than the buffleheads with a dark,probably
> black, body and a yellowish-orange bill.  In profile the forehead seemed
> sloped and when the sun hit the back of the neck appeared to have reddish
> brown areas like the crest of a female Hooded Merganser. I did not have a
> scope so I couldn't see any more details.  I keep trying to turn it into a
> scoter, but it doesn't quite fit.  Any ideas?
>
>           I also saw 29 mallards, 31 blacks, male goldeneye, 20 wigeons and
> a female scaup between Sycamore Landing and TenFoot Island.
>
> Paul Woodward