Hybrid duck, opinions needed (2 Viewers)

[Zheljko]

This duck (nicknamed Darth Vader) is reported irregularly in our area for more than two years. At first we believed it is a hybrid of some Aythya duck (light colored eye on dark head), but later settled on male hybrid of Aix sponsa x Anas platyrhynchos (he feeds by up-ending and readily joins groups of mallards).
Now we have a picture where he is standing on ice on frozen Danube, and his feet are also visible. Are they giving more clues to his origin? The beak also has an unusual hue/pattern. (In eclipse he was much greyer).

 

[MTem]

Take your pick!

Seems Wood duck x Mallard looks a good fit, but it seems this breeder has crossed a Wood duck with just about everything! No wonder duck ID is getting tricky!

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/756201/wood-duck-hybrids-pictures-including-mallard-x-wood-duck

Mick

 

[Zheljko]

Thank you! It seems that this brown breast is common in A.sponsa hybrids.

 

[Nutcracker]

Clearly Wood Duck x something; but I suspect the something may be smaller than a Mallard, this looks quite a compact little duck.

This might help a bit:

 

[stevethehydra]

Looks similar-ish to this one, though it also isn't surely identified: http://birdhybrids.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/wood-duck-x-aythya-sp.html

The bill makes me wonder if a merganser type is involved... though with that structure I could only see Smew or Hooded Merganser as possibilities, and a drake Smew x anything would surely have more white on it... I thought I had seen pictures of Wood Duck x Hooded Merganser hybrids on Flickr, but can't find them right now though...

 

[Maffong]

I think the Wood Duck x Aythya fit s pretty well! My first thought when I saw the pictures was Wood Duck x Netta, but the pale eye rules that out

Maffong

 

[stevethehydra]

Here's a Wood duck x Common Pochard for comparison, with a notably red eye: http://www.pbase.com/image/121719766

I wonder if the head feathering hints at Tufted?