I took a quick look at the various photos of the enigmatic 'shoveler' from Prospect Park in Brooklyn (Kings Co.), first brought to our attention by Rob Jett <http://citybirder.blogspot.com/2010/01/strange-waterfowl.html>. Links to additional images provided by Alex Wilson were also very useful.
This is certainly an interesting ID conundrum and with waterfowl you always have to keep an open mind. So many species are kept in private (as well as public) collections that unfamiliar escapees are always possible, as are hybrids that can closely resemble other species. One of the problems with hybrids is that they can be variable but usually there are enough clues in the details to piece things together. With respect to the Prospect Park duck, the chief possibilities have already been narrowed to Australian Shoveler and Northern Shoveler x Blue-winged Teal. For the reasons given below, I think the latter is correct. >From the photos (a poor substitute for seeing the bird in life), the head sheen looks greenish to my eyes. This would be inconsistent with Australian Shoveler, which should have a blue-gray gloss. In fresh plumage, the head of males may actually appear turquoise but this quite quickly fades with wear. I don't have any literature on the hybrid but web photos (mostly of presumed rather than known hybrids) show a greenish sheen like the Prospect bird. The markings on the flanks also seem to be more consistent with the N. Shoveler x B-W Teal hybrid than an Australian Shoveler, being largely composed of small, neat, spots. In Australian Shoveler the flanks feathers terminate in large scallops rather than spots, especially towards the rear of the flank. The same goes for the markings on the breast, which seem too light (delicate) for Australian Shoveler. Again this fits the photos of purported hybrids. I've always been fascinated by the idea that hybrids between two species of waterfowl sometimes look quite similar to a third species. It suggests that the genetic basis of decorative (ornamental) plumage in male waterfowl is relative simple meaning that only a few genes govern the general appearance (2+2 = 4, 3+1 = 4)? I'm sure there are others on the list who can comment more knowledgeably on this. -- Angus Wilson New York City & The Springs, NY, USA http://birdingtotheend.blogspot.com/ -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
