W&WT Gloucester UK - UK or Foreign/American ? (1 Viewer)

[Musoman]

Photo'd at the Wetland and Wildfowl Trust, Gloucester. The expert staff couldn't ID this bird, so he said possible mixed breed. I know they have a lot of foreign birds including some North American ducks. Strange that it seems to have what looks like a hole through the beak

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
its a White-headed Duck. First impression was that head pattern seems slightly unusual, but then I realized that I am only actively searching for Ruddy Duck influence (hybriddisation is a big problem for conservation of this endangered species). So I think its a pure White-headed Duck, but wait for confirmation.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

White-headed Duck. Showing its nostrils. Presumably it was in a pen with its fellows? Strange the staff didn’t know what it was%

 

[Musoman]

Thanks you two. Yes, they do seem to have ducks there with mixed parentage.

Great that you both say White Headed Duck, so i googled and found that most have a blue beak, though there were a couple of photos of WHD's with a black beak.

It seems the staff dont know everything, but they're generally very helpful people, i've found. But i usually come here for best ID's

By the way, it wasn't penned

 

[Butty]

Looks like a regular non-breeding male white-headed duck.

 

[Musoman]

Why do most WHD's on a Google search turn up mostly birds with blue beaks ? Is blue more normal than black, or is this a breeding colour change ?

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Why do most WHD's on a Google search turn up mostly birds with blue beaks ? Is blue more normal than black, or is this a breeding colour change ?

Just prettier I guess. It’s the same with more pictures of Male birds than females. Yes breeding colour change.

 

[Butty]

Is blue more normal than black, or is this a breeding colour change ?

Non-breeding, as I said above.

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Did you notice any rings or whether it was wing-clipped?
Bit of a coincidence on the location but a very teeny-weeny chance it’s wild.

 

[Musoman]

No i didnt notice , sadly.

 

[PYRTLE]

Are they not involved in a breeding programme of WHDs? Does look to be pinioned, no?

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Are they not involved in a breeding programme of WHDs? Does look to be pinioned, no?

All the more remarkable the expert staff didn’t know what it was.

 

[Butty]

Volunteers.

 

[Musoman]

Are they not involved in a breeding programme of WHDs? Does look to be pinioned, no?

Yes they are, but not sure if the WHD's are part of this. Because i never saw it flap its wings, i wouldn't know about being pinioned. They certainly had , or have, a breeding program with the Nenes , Laysan Teal and Baers Pochard. Not sure on others