ML616692096

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

width of leading vs trailing white speculum edge

Observation details

continuing male mob; I tried to look at as many characters possible, but most of the duck action that would reveal less frequently ecposed feathers happed while the bird was in dense reeds, so some of the photos are partially obscured. Smaller than male Mallard (direct comparison); Female Mallard-like plumage; compared to nearby female Mallards, the body was a darker and of a more uniform dark chestnut brown and contrasting with paler neck; bright yellow bill; outer three rectrices brownish-black and narrowly pale edged without white internal markings (photo); leading white edge of the speculum narrower than trailing edge (photo); uniform dark belly (photo); three of the uppertail coverts were somewhat kinked upward, but nowhere near recurved as in adult male Mallard (photo); the uppertail coverts were “dark” and possibly with limited internal brown markings. Note re Mlodinow discussion on the Bird Hybrids blogsite and a published ABA Mexican Duck photo essay, male MEDU can express MALL traits. On this bird at the least, that would include the 3 kinked uppertail coverts and possibly the color and internal patterning of the uppertail coverts. Tail feather color pattern in agreement with variation of the species identified in Pyle.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM +1.4x III

ISO

1250

Focal length

560 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/9.0

Shutter speed

1/2000 sec

Dimensions

5509 pixels x 3673 pixels

Original file size

13.17 MB