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Hybrid duck, Italy (1 Viewer)

maudoc

mau the doc
Italy
Hello everyone.

This bird was seen in these days at Verona, Northern Italy.

I think that this bird is a male and one of its parents is a Red-crested Pochard :smoke::king::king::king:

Red-crested Pochard is now a common bird in Lake Garda (30 Kms W form Verona), this species is a breeder here too.
In our area hybrids Red-crested Pochard x Mallard are known too.

Common Pochard and Tufted Duck are abundant winter species but they are not known as breeding species in Verona. I don't know any area where Tufted Duck and Red- crested Pochard breed together and the only marsh where we have Common Pochard and Red-crested Pochard together is 50 Kms East of Venice.

I have looked for pictures of RC Pochard hybrids but
  • with Tufted Duck is very different: black head with red crest
  • with Common Pochard? I imagine a red-brown neck-head
  • with Mallard? pictures I saw show a different jizz
  • with Ferruginous Duck? why not more brownish?

I don'think it's a Rosy-billed Pochard too (escaped in this case)

What do you think about?

THANK YOU!!!!
 

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I am not 100% certain what it is but Mallard x Red Crested Pochard does seem to be a variable hybrid, and there are clearly Mallard present so I wouldn't rule that out.

Stephen
 
Example of Red-crested Pochard x Mallard here in Verona

Near in colours (except for breast), red is dark, jizz is different...
 

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My first thought was Tufted x RCP, but photos I can find of that don't seem to have such a red bill and have a "half-tuft" with some reddish streaks in it... possibly could be RCP x Scaup sp?

Or, a really out-there thought... is its bill rather reminiscent of Goosander? :eek:

Edit - I found a German PDF from here: http://birdhybrids.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/red-crested-pochard-x-tufted-duck.html - the RCP x Rosybill ('Peposakaente x Kolbenente') there is very close...
(second edit - I don't seem to be able to attach the PDF but you can download it at the link, relevant photos are on page 26)
 
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My first thought was Tufted x RCP, but photos I can find of that don't seem to have such a red bill and have a "half-tuft" with some reddish streaks in it... possibly could be RCP x Scaup sp?

Or, a really out-there thought... is its bill rather reminiscent of Goosander? :eek:

Edit - I found a German PDF from here: http://birdhybrids.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/red-crested-pochard-x-tufted-duck.html - the RCP x Rosybill ('Peposakaente x Kolbenente') there is very close...
(second edit - I don't seem to be able to attach the PDF but you can download it at the link, relevant photos are on page 26)

Thank You very much!!!
 
I can confirm the Verona bird is indeed rosybill x red crested pochard, it is similar to the photos I was permitted to use for the publication.
The slightly paler vermiculated shoulder patch and the slightly swollen area at the base of the upper mandible are quite characteristic.

Joern
 
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