I spent a few moments today puzzling over a female Ring-necked Duck with
yellow coloration on face just behind bill where the whitish area
usually is. It was not quite a bright yellow but not a dull yellow or
buffy either. The cheek area behind the yellow area was not the normal
gray but white with some black speckling mixed in. Strange. If hybrid
not sure what other species provide the yellow.

The bird was swimming with 2 male Ring-necks in Lake Nirvana near
Kentlands development(not far from intersection of Rte 28 and Main St on
west side of Gaithersburg and just north of Lake Placid).

Andy Martin
Gaithersburg