Mallard

There are ways that some expert birders around here determine whether of not the ducks are hybrids but I'm not sure what they look for...but I've seen many pics of hybrids with white bars above & below the speculum. I'll ask a friend this weekend and see if there is a good way to tell. I know that the pres of our Audubon Society says almost all are hybrids that we see here in FL. Great you have you aboard...you're not far away. Ever go to Bunche Beach? Great for shorebirds! Come visit the Celery Fields in Sarasota sometime.

Hey Suzy...welcome to Project Noah. It's most likely a Mottled or a hybrid between Mallard & Mottled, as we call them "Muddled" Duck. Many feel there are no pure Mallards in FL...or very few. I look forward to more posting from another FL person!

Welcome to Project Noah,Suzybousa Interesting spotting,congrats and thanks for sharing I hope you like the site as much we do; there are many features you can explore: I invite you to go to http://www.projectnoah.org/faq where you will find the purpose and “rules” of Project Noah. There is a blog http://blog.projectnoah.org/ where we post articles from spotters with special insight into different organisms. There are also the chats for help with identification, and to comment on your own and others’ spottings. Look at the global and local missions to put your spottings into: http://www.projectnoah.org/missions Enjoy yourself here, see you around!

Pretty picture, I think it is a female Mallard!