Friday, May 1, 2020

MALE HYBRID MALLARD x NORTHERN SHOVELER, TOMMY THOMPSON PARK,TORONTO,ONTARIO, 4/28/2020

   The duck on the left in both photos we believe is a breeding male hybrid Mallard x Northern Shoveler.  It has the yellow bill of the male Mallard, the irredescent dark green head and neck of both the breeding Mallard and Northern Shoveler, the rufous flanks of the Northern Shoveler  and the powder blue speculum of the Northern Shoveler (the speculum of the Mallard is iridescent purple-blue with white edges).
   We cannot see all of the other two ducks (particularly the bill) and thus cannot determine whether they are hybrids.
   




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