Duck identification - Lake Biwa, Japan (1 Viewer)

[Ross Thompson]

Hello everyone

I have a mystery duck from Lake Biwa. I'm thinking maybe a Baer's Pochard is possible. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Many thanks,
Ross

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Looks more like a Ferruginous Duck to me, though perhaps hard to rule out some hybrid influence. According to Ebird, there has been a Ferruginous x Baer's hybrid there recently (as well as a few pure Ferruginous).

 

[Ross Thompson]

Looks more like a Ferruginous Duck to me, though perhaps hard to rule out some hybrid influence. According to Ebird, there has been a Ferruginous x Baer's hybrid there recently (as well as a few pure Ferruginous).

Thanks Andrew

I originally thought about a Ferruginous, but I felt there was too much white on the flanks. I know hybrids are possible, but these seem generally to have the darker sides. I don't have so much experience with these species to be sure, though.

Ross

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

On my screen the head is really black , and look at the flank pattern...This could well indicate hybrid.

The second photo doesn´t open for me though

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

On my screen the head is really black , and look at the flank pattern...This could well indicate hybrid.

The second photo doesn´t open for me though

 

[lou salomon]

head is very dark for a pure male Ferruginous and iris is not as white, so, probably the mentioned hybrid.

 

[Ross Thompson]

On my screen the head is really black , and look at the flank pattern...This could well indicate hybrid.

The second photo doesn´t open for me though

Hello Joern

I have the second photo below.

Many thanks

 

[lou salomon]

what about the pale front flank, Jörn - looks off for a nyroca, too?

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,

and subdued, not starring yellowish-white eye (not so good at least for an adult male pure FD)
Thanks Jörn, Lou and all for more comments!

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

what about the pale front flank, Jörn - looks off for a nyroca, too?

yes, also in the first photo, the flank already looks a bit odd for a nyroca male.

to me the eye has no yellow , though it doesnt look that bright white - but look how dark the red eye of the male pochard looks in the same photo, I think that is more a lighting issue ...and in a male nyroca x baeri the eye should be white....

I don't have much experience with Baer´s first calendar year males , so I´d wait for somebody with more experience there, but here are photo of hybrids:

https://flic.kr/p/QPhgQB

ML302644451 - Ferruginous Duck x Baer's Pochard (hybrid) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML302644451; © u7 Liao; Hsinchu City, Taiwan

macaulaylibrary.org

ML531374111 - Ferruginous Duck x Baer's Pochard (hybrid) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML531374111; © Atsushi Shimazaki; Nara, Nara, Japan

macaulaylibrary.org

ML615087254 - Ferruginous Duck x Baer's Pochard (hybrid) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML615087254; © Xuelei Jiang; Jiangsu, China

macaulaylibrary.org

ML542574701 - Ferruginous Duck x Baer's Pochard (hybrid) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML542574701; © kenji fukuzawa; Taito City, Tokyo, Japan

macaulaylibrary.org

ML442472801 - Ferruginous Duck x Baer's Pochard (hybrid) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML442472801; © toshiaki sasama; Kuwana, Mie, Japan

macaulaylibrary.org

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

ML622158185 - Ferruginous Duck x Baer's Pochard (hybrid) - Macaulay Library

Macaulay Library ML622158185; © Atsushi Shimazaki; Yamatokoriyama, Nara, Japan

macaulaylibrary.org