Bird IDs Needed. Merritt Island, FL, USA (1 Viewer)

[rjackb]

These photos are all from 24 June, 2016 at Merritt Island, NWF. The birds in the 2nd photo were fairly distant and not a great angle so I'm not sure how identifiable they are. Is the bird in the third photo a juvenile Black Skimmer? I saw several adults around the same time. The bill of the bird in the fourth photo looks very strange, almost like an artifact. Thanks!

Jack

 

[Rotherbirder]

My assessment is, in order: Mottled Duck, Black Skimmer, Caspian Tern & Least Tern.

 

[MTem]

4th bird is carrying a fish in its beak.

 

[rjackb]

4th bird is carrying a fish in its beak.

Good observation! I couldn't figure out what was going on.

 

[rjackb]

My assessment is, in order: Mottled Duck, Black Skimmer, Caspian Tern & Least Tern.

Thank you!

 

[rkj]

I think both birds in the first photo are probably Mottled x Mallard Duck hybrids. An excellent article on their identification is here: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/eBird_Muddled_Ducks.pdf