The Bird Nuts
Birding Duo
Wanted more opinions on these ducks I saw yesterday in Vermont. Thanks!
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Ducks in flight in Vermont, U.S. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter The Bird Nuts
- Start date
They seem like Mallards to me (e.g. extensively white underwing, orange legs). Maybe a chance they might be Black Ducks, but I'm not sure they're dark enough. Definitely not Pintail.
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Ditto to Mallards; the white trailing edge to the secondaries rules out Black Duck.
The Bird Nuts
Birding Duo
Wow, now I have had four species suggested. |:S| Why not Gadwalls?
The Bird Nuts
Birding Duo
Okay, thanks! Now I don't know what to say to the eBird reviewer. She thought they were black ducks, two others agreed to Gadwall (by shape), and two of you say Mallard. And I don't have much experience with ducks, especially in flight. We may never know for sure, I guess. Thanks again for your input!
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I withdraw my pintail suggestion—tail-shape wrong for that species. So, now you’re back to just three again. . ..
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
The white block of secondaries of a Gadwall would show well, and it isn't there, so not Gadwall.
Rotherbirder
Well-known member
The strong contrast between dark underbody and shining white wing linings on all birds supports Black Duck. Certainly not Pintail or Gadwall.
RB
RB
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
But not with that white trailing edge to the secondaries! That's Mallard, or at least Mallard x Black Duck hybrid.
The Bird Nuts
Birding Duo
But since they are backlit, the white trailing edge to the secondaries could be caused by the light shining through the tips of the feathers, right?
Jeff Hopkins
Just another...observer
Another for mallard.
Rotherbirder
Well-known member
Black Duck shows narrow white tips to secondaries - at least drakes do! Comparing images of the two species in flight from beneath (and backlit where possible), I can't see any reason to discount this species.
RB
RB
