Duck - Bislicher Insel - Wesel [Germany] (1 Viewer)

[David_]

Hello everyone,

I took these pictures today of a female duck. I couldn't take more pictures as it was disappearing behind some bushes (already had to take those photos through the bushes with some leaves already visible in the pictures).

I have a hard time identifying the species and are a bit clueless with this one. With a light brown head and a grey bill, could it be a Northern Pintail? (Just guessing)



Thanks
David

 

[wheatearlp]

Hello everyone,

I took these pictures today of a female duck. I couldn't take more pictures as it was disappearing behind some bushes (already had to take those photos through the bushes with some leaves already visible in the pictures).

I have a hard time identifying the species and are a bit clueless with this one. With a light brown head and a grey bill, could it be a Northern Pintail? (Just guessing)

View attachment 1414702View attachment 1414703View attachment 1414704View attachment 1414705View attachment 1414706View attachment 1414707

Thanks
David

Female Teal

 

[David_]

Female Teal

Thanks.

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello David,
agree with wheatearlp, its a Teal. They can sometimes give a strange, hard ID-impression, when small size isnt appearant. Like your lone bird.
But if you see a female dabbling Duck, that you struggle to identify, and that gives some kind of wary/shy impression, than a Teal is often the right answer.
Reason?
Mallard: you have seen so much of them, that you can ID them with a glimpse. Like parents can with their twins, that seems identical to others
Gadwall: many/most females have the right bill-pattern, which is distinctive. And its a bird, that looks similar to a Mallard. So you have looked at many of them and learned how to ID them
Shoveler: unique bill and distinctive feeding action
Pintail distinctive shape, sometimes you think you have one, but: if have you really have one, than you know its the real deal
Garganey: fine/subtly features, you have learned them

But the featureless Teal? Often, the small size is appearant, but if its not, there is not much to go. I hope that understandable.

 

[David_]

But if you see a female dabbling Duck, that you struggle to identify, and that gives some kind of wary/shy impression, than a Teal is often the right answer.

Will keep this in mind for the future