Waterfowl ID- The Hague Netherlands (1 Viewer)

[connormproudfoot]

I believe this is a red-crested pochard female, nothing else in the area seems to match this bird. Is there any chance it is something else? Apologies for the poor photo.
Thank you for the help.

 

[birdboybowley]

Nope, you are correct 👍

 

[connormproudfoot]

Nope, you are correct 👍

Thanks

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Hello,
yes I agree with you and birdboybowley its a female or juvenile Red-crested Pochard. Proportions with a miniature head seems somewhat strange, even funny (no offense) to me.

But before it is burried under newer threads: do you remember (or have more pictures), if the appearant colouration of the bill was like it looks like on the picture? It seems to be greenish-yellow=Mallard-colour = out of variation (?) for a pure RCP. And this for than more than the half of the bill.

Yes this can well be explained by picture quality, but if real this might be a RCP x Mallard hybrid.

 

[connormproudfoot]

Hello,
yes I agree with you and birdboybowley its a female or juvenile Red-crested Pochard. Proportions with a miniature head seems somewhat strange, even funny (no offense) to me.

But before it is burried under newer threads: do you remember (or have more pictures), if the appearant colouration of the bill was like it looks like on the picture? It seems to be greenish-yellow=Mallard-colour = out of variation (?) for a pure RCP. And this for than more than the half of the bill.

Yes this can well be explained by picture quality, but if real this might be a RCP x Mallard hybrid.

That’s an interesting point, however the bill was entirely a slaty black colour. The sun was setting right behind it, and caused a reflection. I did not even know they could hybridize. Photo was taken with my phone through binoculars. Today taught me to never leave the camera at home again!

 

[Alexander Stöhr]

Thank you for your fast answer!
Then the bill colour is an artefact and the bird a pure RCP, as you and birdboybowley has already said.