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This wild hybrid duck (Anas spp.) was seen at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve in April 2007 associating with American Wigeons (Anas americana).
When I photographed the ducks, I assumed that this bird was a Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca), but looking at the photos, I realized that it lacked the vertical bar on the shoulder and the light, buffy color on the rump. Consulting the books, I concluded that the bird was a hybrid, but the parentage is uncertain, probably American Wigeon and either Eurasian Wigeon or American Green-winged Teal.
The duck could be an American Wigeon x American Green-winged Teal hybrid, a known hybrid form, based on the black rump pattern and the white lines on the face (between the red and green areas). |
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However, the duck could also be an American Wigeon x Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) hybrid, another known hybrid form, based on the oversized eye stripe (similar to some American x Eurasian hybrids), the dark breast, and size.
The unanimous consensus of the Nevada Birding Community (4 people commented) is that this is an American Wigeon x Green-winged Teal hybrid.
For someone who has looked at ducks for decades, this proves that there is always something new and interesting under the sun. |