Cape Shoveler or Blue-winged Teal (1 Viewer)

IanF

Moderator

• Mar 14, 2007

• #1

I came across this bird late evening tonight as I headed out to look for Owls. My first thoughts were of it being a Blue-winged Teal due to the white half moon marking and white spot rear flanks. The flanks appeared more rufous than I'd expected though.

Apparently there was a drake Cape Shoeveler in the area last Autumn and it's suggested it may be the same bird.

I can't find a photo of a drake Cape Shovler to compare - anyone any ideas.

Photos are a bit poor as the light was going.

 

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J

J Jones

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2007

• #2

Don't think Cape Shovelers look like this.

Should be comparing BW Teal with Australian Shoveler. Can't really tell from these images and I don't have much experience with Aussie Shov.

 

Swift

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2007

• #3

Cape Shovelers are dark birds not to dissimilar to female shovelers.

 

IanF

Moderator

• Mar 14, 2007

• #4

Josh Jones said:

Don't think Cape Shovelers look like this.

Should be comparing BW Teal with Australian Shoveler. Can't really tell from these images and I don't have much experience with Aussie Shov.

Click to expand...

I see what you mean about the Aussie Shoveler - very similar to this bird - though the white half moon looked more prominent.

I guess I'll be having a revisit tomorrow!

 

J

J Jones

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2007

• #5

I don't think its a pure BWTeal.... but it also doesn't look right for Aussie Shoveler now I've done some research.

Also fiddled with the photos and I could only see green in the head as opposed to blue which is what one would expect in BW Teal.

Hybrid, anyone?

Have you got any more pics Ian?

 

IanF

Moderator

• Mar 14, 2007

• #6

Swift said:

Cape Shovelers are dark birds not to dissimilar to female shovelers.

Click to expand...

The reddish borwn flanks threw me at the time - a bit too coloured for BW Teal. This bird as an escapee Aussie Shoveler might be the answer especially if one was only a couple of miles away a few months back.

 

IanF

Moderator

• Mar 14, 2007

• #7

Josh Jones said:

I don't think its a pure BWTeal.... but it also doesn't look right for Aussie Shoveler now I've done some research.

Also fiddled with the photos and I could only see green in the head as opposed to blue which is what one would expect in BW Teal.

Hybrid, anyone?

Have you got any more pics Ian?

Click to expand...

No more pics that are any different at least. It was almost dusk when I went out so lighting was poor. I thought myself the head looked dark with a greenish tinge - but put it down to the low light.

If not an escapee then an escapee hybrid me thinks!

 

M

marklhawkes

Well-known member

• Mar 14, 2007

• #8

It could be a BWT x Shoveler hybrid - that would explain the plumage, and this pair are know to hybridize

 

Xenospiza

Distracted

• Mar 15, 2007

• #9

To support Mark's suggestion, a very similar bird from the Netherlands: http://www.dutchbirding.nl/pics/pictures.php?page=1&id=2167

 

R

Rainer

Active member

• Mar 15, 2007

• #10

I photographed a similar looking duck last year in Spain, see the thread

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=49540

Joen Lehmhus identified it as a hybrid Cinnamon Teal x Northern Shoveler.
One difference of the Spanish duck to the duck above is the spot at the rear flank, which was brownish and not white.

In his kind remarks Joern mentioned "... Hybrids BW Teal x Northern Shoveler tend to be lighter coloured on the flanks and generally show a white patch on the rear flanks. whereas hybrids Cinnamon Teal x Northern Shoveler sometimes show a small witish patch there or, as your bird does,show a pale reddish brown patch at the rear flank."

So I am not that sure whether your bird is BW Teal x Northern Shoveler or
Cinnamon Teal x Northern Shoveler.

 

IanF

Moderator

• Mar 15, 2007

• #11

Xenospiza said:

To support Mark's suggestion, a very similar bird from the Netherlands: http://www.dutchbirding.nl/pics/pictures.php?page=1&id=2167

Click to expand...

Lol! It could be the same bird I saw! It was back this afternoon on Saltholme Ponds. Head is definitely greenish and the white half moon well marked as is the white patch on the flanks. Flanks are ruddy coloured but no so intense as in Rainer's photos.

 

Rob Smallwood

Well-known member

• Mar 15, 2007

• #12

A similar bird was at Conwy RSPB last year I think.

 

Joern Lehmhus

Well-known member

• Mar 16, 2007

• #13

Hi, I would also think that your Bird, Ian , is a BW Teal x Northern Shoveler...For a Shoveler the bill looks smallish, there is a big white patch at the rear end and the head looks more greenish than in BW-Teal...