When we returned the next day I got in the back seat before we arrived. Now I, too, had a clear view. It's an odd duck. It is a large as a northern shoveler and from the shoulders back looks like a shoveler; but instead of a dark green head and huge bill, this duck has two splotches of white on its head and a large bill, but not the big flat flared bill typical of a n. shoveler. I suppose it is a hybrid, but we're not sure of its parentage. The odd duck was keeping company with a handful of normal shovelers.
The little brown duck is a hen hooded merganser who was sharing the pond with the shovelers.
I like your sketches. The white crescent in front of the eye suggests a Northern shoveler-Blue winged teal hybrid (see Google images). The white patch on the cheek, though, is more of a puzzle as it would not be typical of that hybrid. Interesting bird!
ReplyDeleteHas the face markings of an Australasian Shoveler - native of Australia and New Zealand. I'm guessing its a ways out of it's normal range...
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_Shoveler
It has the markings of an Australasian shoveler - native to Australia and New Zealand.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australasian_Shoveler
I looked up the Australasian shoveler. There is a strong similarity! but the Australasian bill flares like a northern shoveler and I don't see that white cheek patch.
DeleteThanks for alerting me to the Australasian... a close resemblance.
me encanta tus dibujos ,da ganas de intentarlo, tambien !!
ReplyDeleteGreat page, Elva. Love watching ducks.
ReplyDelete