Mystery duck

[Narolines]

Yesterday I saw a neat lttle duck on the River Aire and can't find it in any of my reference books. It was smaller than the mallards it was keeping company with; it had a greenish bill, a pale creamy grey head with a black stripe over the crown, down the back of the head and round the neck, rich chestnut colouring on the back and wings, stark black and white at the rear of the body and a neat little curved black tail. Any suggestions as to its identity?

[Cetti]

Could it have been a male Long-Tailed Duck, Narolines? It's the only one that's anyway near your description - and also small enough. The male might be in its 'eclipse' plumage - sort of half way between summer and winter ....or failing that an immature which has a variety of plumage. See what you think.

[Narolines]

Thanks Cetti, but no - its tail was very like a mallard's tail -neat, curled and short - and the chestnut was very rich - like a ruddy duck in colour. Maybe it's an odd hybrid escapee..

[Cetti]

Yes, you are right, it could be an escapee from a private collection or more likely to be a hybrid. With what I don't know, but Mallards are not fussy with whom they mate with - probably some poor unsuspecting little lady duck who just happened to swim by at the wrong time!