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#5983693302537177906<https://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#5983696870122872834<https://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 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
