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Mallard Female

Anas platyrhynchos

Photo by HemaShah
Published on Project Noah
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36.7783, -119.418

Species ID Suggestions

Mallard (female)

Anas platyrhynchos

Comments (8)

Mallards are highly variable. The bill coloration is not always a definite field mark because the of this. What really gives this bird away as a Mallard is the strong supercilium, which female Gadwalls nearly never show. I feel very confident that this bird is a Mallard.
I was getting mixed up between supercillium and speculum :)
@ Liam ,I do see what you mean by the Speculum. So should i go ahead with Mallard?
This is what Cornell says, Similar to female Mallard but smaller and more delicateHead more blocky and less rounded than MallardWhite patch sometimes visible on folded wingThin, two-toned bill black above, pale orange below
@ Liam , Also check this one http://sangorgonio.sierraclub.org/mountains/animals/birds/ducksdabbling-p1.htm If the feeling is strong Mallard ,then i will consider it!
@ Liam,Look at this link. Very similar to mine http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anas_strepera_femea.jpg On the Cornell website it says that , Galdwall female has a two toned beak with an orange edge. Similar to my spotting. it is this beak that got me wondering. Also the shape of the head . it is flatter on top and not rounded like the female mallards.
Gadwalls show a very minimal supercilium, also note the white tail feathers found on Mallard, but not Gadwall.
Photographed
PublishedDecember 29, 2011

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