Hi,
Why N America and not Europe or N Asia? I don't remember a difference between
Gadwalls across these continents regarding their speculum pattern?
Overall jizz, head shape, facial pattern, bill colour, bill shape and speculum
pattern don't match that of a Gadwall but rather match that of the Mallard
complex. Gadwall has a sharply defined black and white speculum very unlike
that of the hybrid mutant monster in question. Thus, I don't think that Gadwall
is part of this mix. Having said this, it is well documented in the literature
that the off spring of two duck species (I.e. Tufted Duck x Common Pochard can
look like Lesser Scaup plus many more examples; see Randler 2001 or Gillham &
Gillham 1996) can look much more similar to a third species than to either of
the parents. This certainly complicates the ID of hybrid waterfowl.
Anyway, I am pretty sure that this bird is a human-influenced mutant on top of
the hybridisation issue. Therefore my ID 'barnyard-type" Pacific Black Duck x
Mallard hybrid.
Cheers,
Nikolas
A/Prof Nikolas Haass | Head, Experimental Melanoma Therapy Group
The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute
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From: Jim Tate <<>>
Date: Sunday, 22 June 2014 2:07 AM
To: Kev Lobotomi <<>>,
Russell Woodford <<>>,
"<>"
<<>>
Subject: Duck
Probably beyond the Pale, but in N America the speculum would look like a
Gadwall. -TATE
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