Mystery Duck (with pictures)

by W
(Cincinnati, Ohio)

wading through the pond

At Cincinnati Zoo, Swan Lake, native waterfowl like Trumpeter Swans can come and go as they please. He is a mallard-sized duck that is mainly black-colored. He has large white side patches, almost like the American scaups. He has a head colored like dark chocolate with warm yellow eyes. Weird part:bright pink bill with black tip. He also has yellow legs. I would say ring-necked duck, except for the bill color and brown head.Does anyone know who he is??? (BTW, wasn't on allaboutbirds.com;already checked)

Comments for Mystery Duck (with pictures)

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Sep 08, 2011

Perhaps a redhead?
by: Anonymous

I also took a picture of this duck and am still looking for an ID. It seemed to be hanging out with several Redheads and there appear to be more similarities than to mallards.

The head is brownish, but could also be considered rust red. The yellow eyes are similar as well as the black tip on the bill.

The pink bill is unusual and I can't find anything like it. The wing coloration is somewhat similar to female Redheads, but not convincingly so. There is another individual with similar wing coloration, but with a pale blue bill like the redheads.

Jun 30, 2011

problematic mallard?
by: Wyatt

After a long, long, long (emphasis on long) time searching on the computer, I think it might be a mallard with either pigmentation and genetic problems or a mallard hybrid, as it moved around with the mallards there. Can somebody confirm this?

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