Does Amer. Black Duck have any white in tail? (1 Viewer)

A2GG

Beth

• Jul 20, 2013

• #1

I believe I saw 2 male eclipse mallards today, however while one was preening himself on the bank I saw the speculum and no white border was evident (could see thin black border)...unless the white border was hidden. I watched them in the water paddling away and they had whitish undertails. A black duck has no white at all in the tail or undertails...correct? They looked a little too light toned for black ducks I think.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jul 21, 2013

• #2

How about a hybrid between the two?

Niels

 

A2GG

Beth

• Jul 21, 2013

• #3

njlarsen said:

How about a hybrid between the two?

Niels

Click to expand...

That crossed my mind. But I want to confirm that black ducks have no white in undertail and tail whatsoever...correct? I'm almost certain of this but want to be sure. I don't see white in this area in the field guides.

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• Jul 21, 2013

• #4

Annabeth2 said:

. A black duck has no white at all in the tail or undertails...correct?

Click to expand...

Yes, correct, at least according to the elaborate description of the feathering in BNA-online which I just checked.

 

A2GG

Beth

• Jul 21, 2013

• #5

fugl said:

Yes, correct, at least according to the elaborate description of the feathering in BNA-online which I just checked.

Click to expand...

Thank you Fugl

 

T

Tideliner

Well-known member

• Jul 21, 2013

• #6

You mentioned they were in eclipse . Eclipse birds are in moult and as such are very likely to have various feather such as the missing ones you described missing as they are being shed and regrown. Rembember waterfowl unlike most other birds moult whole sections of feathers at the same time so it would not be a case of a couple of white covert feathers missing , rather the whole group of covert feathers. So an eclipse mallard could show the features you described.

 

Last edited: Jul 21, 2013