mystery aythya (1 Viewer)

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Nov 11, 2003

• #1

Hi all you duck lovers,
what do you think of this? found it in the net, will give location and date later...didn´t see it myself, would have been nice.

 

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Nov 11, 2003

• #2

oops, another try

 

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CJW

Hit-and-run WUM

• Nov 11, 2003

• #3

Looks like a drake Redhead to me.

 

Jane Turner

Well-known member

• Nov 11, 2003

• #4

Me too, but I hate ducks, especially Aythya's and I don't fancy putting the effort to rule out Pochard X Fudge Duck

 

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2003

• #5

It was observed 20.4.-13.5.2000 at the nature reserve Rieselfelder Münster near the city of Münster in the north of Northrhine-Westfalia and was after some discussion considered to be a Redhead.
People were concerned because of the washed out black stripe on the bill going over the nostrils, as this didnt seem to fit into the normal redhead bill pattern.

I would also accept this as a Redhead, but wanted to have the opinions of more experienced people. Thanks!

Jörn

 

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2003

• #6

Ah yes, and it was in company with a female pochard...

 

Michael Frankis

conehead

• Nov 12, 2003

• #7

Oh no not ANOTHER Aythya !!!

Orange eye . . . Redhead is yellow, Pochard is red. Redhead also has a rather more rounded head, this looks a bit too Pochard shaped for me. The bill pattern is also a bit 'iffy', with that dark streak down to the nostril.

I'll go for Pochard x Redhead hybrid, though Pochard x Ferruginous is also a good possibility

Michael

 

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2003

• #8

Well, I see You all really love Aythyas

Here is the actual address with some more pics:

http://www.uni-muenster.de/Landscha...doer/Ornicorner/MS_Orni/arten/rotkopfente.htm

The original description of the bird is also there, but unfortunately only in German

Nevertheless the observer stated the iris being yellow-orange, honeycolored

 

D

Darrell Clegg

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2003

• #9

The thing that concerned me in the first photo was how insignificant the white bill stripe looked. This is a noticable feature of every Redhead I've ever seen (UK and US) and I was leaning towards a Pochard X Fudge Hybrid.
Thanks to Joern for the link to the other photos, 'cos I can see that it is actually there in one of the head on shots. I don't see anything else to rule out Redhead.

Did it look noticably broader and bulkier than Pochard? and was it spinning? Maybe it is just me but my recollection of Redhead is that they sit with their head tucked under their wing and spin around in slow circles!!!!

Darrell

 

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Nov 12, 2003

• #10

Hi Darrell,
Yes it was described as slightly bigger than Pochard and also lying higher in the water.

Nothing about spinning though; but I doubt that could be a feature used for ID, I have seen the same behaviour in sleeping or resting Pochards and Tufties (at least I would guess so after your description)

Jörn

 

Larry Lade

Moderator

• Nov 12, 2003

• #11

It certainly looks a lot like the Redheads that I see over here in Missouri.

Larry