Young female Mallard ? (1 Viewer)

Potatoheaded Bobby

Well-known member

• Oct 23, 2020

• #1

Found this floating on 'Professor's Lake', Brampton, Ontario today.
This thing is about 8 inches (about 20 cm) long. About a third the size of a adult Mallard. Just wondering if this is a very young female. You can make out the greenish colour on the back of the duck. It caught my eye because of the small size of the duck.
Your opinions welcome.
Detlef

 

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Microtus

Maryland USA (he/him)

• Oct 23, 2020

• #2

The green showing on the wing rules out Mallard. Birds that can fly are essentially fully grown, so this smaller-than-Mallard bird is not a very young female Mallard, it is a fully grown adult female Green-winged Teal.

 

RafaelMatias

Unknown member

• Oct 23, 2020

• #3

Agree with Green-winged Teal. The "white dash" on the sides of the tail base is usually a good giveaway.

 

Last edited: Oct 23, 2020

KC Foggin

Very, very long time member

Supporter

• Oct 23, 2020

• #4

Teal was my first thought.

 

Potatoheaded Bobby

Well-known member

• Oct 23, 2020

• #5

Great. Thanks for all your replies.
Will have to go out today to see if it is awake. Hopefully still there.
Thanks again.
Detlef