ML624371887

Observation details

I first picked up this bird from the north side of The Pool looking south. Its small size, patterned face (dark eye line, white arcs around eyes, and pale spot at base of bill), and warm-toned somewhat mottled plumage caught my eye. The bird started preening and revealed sky-blue lesser and middle coverts—bingo. Upon reviewing my photos and consulting my Pyle guide and the USFWS Carney guide, I believe my hunch in the field was accurate: the bird appears to be a HY female based on the worn rectrices, mostly dark greater coverts, and absence of green on the secondaries. The bird also appears to be molting from juvenile into adult body plumage, and some of its feather tracts, e.g., the tertials, appear adult like. That said, I would welcome thoughts from anyone with more experience assessing BWTE molt. Photos attached. The relatively strongly patterned face should be sufficient to rule out the unlikely possibility of Cinnamon Teal.

Additional species

• Mallard Anas platyrhynchos