Bird Identity Help

[Milvus]

Any suggestions on this female:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40634294@N06/9052750786/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/40634294@N06/9052764142/
I was at Rutland Water today and saw this female, a little larger than a Mallard.
Other birds in the bay, Coot, Mallard, Tufted Duck and Gadwall pairs.
Could not find a male with this one. Though it might just be a colour mutation with the patchy white on the throat
Thanks

[Gizmonster]

Try the RSPB bird identifier:

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/

[Milvus]

Thanks Gizmonster, I have tried RSPB and other identifiers. Still stuck though.

[Prudie]

I've been through my big RSPB bird book, including the rarities and nothing comes close - it certainly looks like mutated pigmentation on a mallard.

[Milvus]

That could be a good shot Prudie. My brother has just texted me with a Bibbed domestic Mallard.
Tricky one

[webbo3]

could it be a blue duck ?

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=blue+duck&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&;ei=yM28UfWAEIfYPd-bgdgM&;ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=899



Dave.

[237SJ]

The blue duck has a white beak whilst the duck in the original picture has a black beak so I doubt it`s a blue duck

[plowter]

Looks to me like a Blue Swedish duck.

[webbo3]

true, 237SJ, i didn't notice that just the similar markings, perhaps milvus should email a pic to the wildfowl and wetlands trust at slimbridge.


Dave.

[Milvus]

It's a long way off course from New Zealand, so I don't think so Webbo but I haven't seen one of these in my pictures before. Still baffled :(

[Milvus]

Plowter, that's some call!
Looks good to me. Will have a chat with Rutland tomorrow and report back

[plowter]

Swedish Blue domestic duck - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Blue_duck

http://www.cavette.net/photos/lakeelizabeth/blueswedish.jpg

[Milvus]

Way too close to be ignored Plowter. And it's a domestic, so possibly popped over from a local(ish) garden. I'm sure you have it there

[Chipchopper]

I'm no expert but I've seen many like this on park ponds and always thought they are Heinz 57s or mongrels of the duck world.

[rowanwitch]

Hybridised mallard... they are able to interbreed with a number of domestic varieties and give all sorts of non standard patterns. Also known as a mucky mallard

[Milvus]

Thanks Chipchopper, Rowanwitch. I have sent off the photos to Rutland Water and Slimbridge to get a view from them. The pictures of the Swedish Blue on the web do match it well, though they vary quite a lot on colour form

[Tilly2]

You haven't mentioned the ospreys, Milvus.

[carrust]

I'm with rowan on this one. Prob be a mallard hybrid.

[Milvus]

It was a bit quiet on the Osprey front yesterday Tilly. The Osprey chicks in all the nests are doing well. The male (5R) had been away from the nest when I got to the hide, came back with a trout, then disappeared off again.