ML645063772

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Looks to be a phenotypically pure individual. Although the risk of mallard hybridization with the species is always cause for suspicion. It was associating with the larger groups of mallards that arrived with the recent, and unusually strong for November, cold snap. Immediately caught my eye as as a non-mallard candidate due to its markedly darker plumage. Uniformly dark body with a paler head and olive yellow bill. Spent quite some time looking for signs of hybridization but didn’t catch anything obvious. Most critically, in good light the speculum is purple with a black border and no white present along the edges at all. Adding photos shortly.