I was doing mundane things on Saturday (censusing crows at the compost,
shopping for food and stuff, etc.), and happened on a couple of things of
possible interest to the local birding community.
First, although there were lots and lots of crows at the Cornell compost
facility on Stevenson Rd, there were NO gulls present during my hour-long crow
census. Afterward, I discovered a few hundred gulls loafing and doing something
in the field to the WNW of Game Farm Rd/ Ellis Hollow Rd. This group included
two GLAUCOUS GULLS, a 1st cycle (dull, with dirty champagne-colored wash) and a
2nd cycle (brilliant white with a few silvery back feathers), and a brief
appearance from a COMMON RAVEN.
Cutting through town from there to the big boxes, I was thinking about finding
some early dabbling ducks in out-of-the-way spots (apparently a day early), and
happened to spy some Mallards on Six Mile Creek from S Titus Ave, just west of
the Plain Street bridge. I almost went by, but, it was sunny and I was in no
hurry, plus there were parking spaces along the street, so I stopped and jumped
out with my camera. Nothing but Mallards at first glance, but they were
beautiful enough in the sunshine. I noticed a mottled male that showed signs
of being a very old female (an intersex bird) showing a mixture of male and
female characteristics (see
https://picasaweb.google.com/101683745969614096883/Winter20132014#5983693302537177906https://picasaweb.google.com/101683745969614096883/Winter20132014#5983693302537177906?noredirect=1).
Then I noticed a female Mallard that had a much more distinct grayish facial
pattern, with a bold white supercillium, a distinct dark line through the eye,
a whitish chin and throat, a dark streak running up from the gape of the bill
to behind the eye, and a distinct yellowish spot at the tip of the otherwise
blackish bill. It stood out from all the other female Mallards, and I said to
myself, Whoah! That looks like a Spot-billed Duck! I looked for other
characteristics, and sure enough, it showed distinct, although not bold, white
edging to the tertials and a brown, not white-based tail.
Spot-billed Duck, Anas poecilorhyncha, as I learned it, now split into Indian
and Eastern Spot-billed ducks (Anas zonorhyncha), is/are female-Mallard-like
ducks common in eastern Asia. There are a few records of accidental individuals
from the western Alaskan islands, but, I know them from a feral introduction
into Tampa, Florida. Apparently there was a large release of Spot-billed Ducks
into Tamp in the 1970s or so (from the extensive bird collection of Busch
Gardens?), and they sort of established themselves as local breeders. Along
with the Muscovy Ducks, Egyptian Geese, and Rudy Shelducks that could be seen
flying around Tampa. Problem was, they paired and hybridized extensively with
the feral and introduced Mallards in the same area. (Mallards are not native to
Florida.) So, lots of the Mallards we would find in the local ponds showed
character traits of Spot-billed Ducks, and I got used to looking for them. A
mostly all-dark bill with the terminal third yellow or pale orange was a good
clue, but it was the frosty tertials with a broad white edge that stood out
most to me. Also, the grayish, not brown, face with distinct dark stripes
through the eye and up from the bill gape. I don't remember ever looking to
see if the tail was white (like a Mallard) or brown (like a Spot-billed).
The Titus Ave duck had 5 Spot-billed, not Mallard, characteristics that I
noticed right away and made me take photos. See
https://picasaweb.google.com/101683745969614096883/Winter20132014#5983696870122872834https://picasaweb.google.com/101683745969614096883/Winter20132014#5983696870122872834?noredirect=1.
But upon reviewing the photos I notice a few things that are more Mallard:
bold white borders to speculum, extensive pale markings within the very brown
body feathers, orange edges to gape and base of bill. Still, things like that
were pretty common in the Mallard-mixed-with-Spot-billed-mixed-with-Mottled
ducks we used to see in Tampa.
Honestly, I'm not experienced enough with real Eastern Spot-billed Ducks to
make an evaluation on this or other birds. But, what I saw was enough to wake
me up and take notice. I don't think Spot-billed Ducks are common in captivity
(they're pretty dull-looking), and I know the breeds of domestic Mallards can
differ in distinctiveness of facial pattern. And some domestic or
exotic-breeder genes in this bird are WAY more likely than a real vagrant.
But, who knows?
Personally, I find pleasure in just noticing the differences among individuals
of either common or rare species. Even vagaries of common, domesticated and
perverted species can provide interesting learning experiences, or, sometimes,
fond memories.
Best,
Kevin
--
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