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Thanks in advance for any help.

I believe that is a drake gadwall.

M.B.

yep..greyduck..nnnnttt...nnnnttt.nnnnttt

Wingman
ISAIAH 40:31

I think I've shot, or shot at, enough of those ol' grey birds to know that's a drake gadwall. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

I see alot of gadwall traits, but gadwalls typically have white on their lower bellies. My vote is a summer plumage bluewing teal.

I think that the light may be decieving a little in that photo. Looks like a gray drake to me.

That's a great shot!! My .02 is green or cinnamon teal, drake

I do believe it is a teal. I do not think it is a blue wing.

Good question.

Where did you take the photo and the time of the year?

I agree with GC the light can be tricky.

My guess: Gadwalls are medium-sized ducks characterized by a general lack of bright coloration. Males are gray-brown.
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Six Simple Tips for Quick Bird ID

Memorize the following six tips to help you to identify birds. With practice, these tips will come to mind automatically when you look at a new bird and will help you to remember its important features.

1. What is the bird’s relative size?
Compare the bird with other birds that are well known to you. Is it larger or smaller than a SPARROW? If larger, is it larger or smaller than a PIGEON? If larger, is it larger or smaller than a HAWK?

2. What is the shape and color of the bird’s beak?
The shape of its beak is a guide to what it eats, classifying the type of bird it is. Is the beak short and round like that of a songbird or powerful and hooked like that of a hawk? What color is its beak? Many birds have blackish beaks but some are brightly colored.

3. What length and color are the bird’s legs?
Does the bird have unusually long wading legs, short, perching legs, etc.? Are its legs a distinctive color?

4. What plumage colors or markings do you notice?
Bold markings, colors, or bars on the bird’s wings, tail, breast, or above the eyes should be noted. Also note that in some bird species the males are brightly colored and the females tend to be camouflaged.

5. In what habitat do you see the bird?
The habitat in which the bird is seen is another important clue to the kind of bird it is.

6. What is the bird doing?
Is it walking, hopping, wading, or swimming? Does it peck at the ground, probe in mud, or feed in a tree?

[ April 26, 2002: Message edited by: Webfoot ]

That's the great, "Well at least we got some gadwalls, maybe the greenheads will be here later" bird!!! Drake Gadwall, Final Answer! [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Don't you guys know when you see a sewage pidgeon? [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img] Gadwall Drake is my vote. Looks too large to be a teal. How about that black beak?

Mississippi Photoman, if you took a shot of the duck when it flapped its wing down, we can end this quickly. A gadwall has a prominent white patch on its wing speculum. The bluewing teal, obviously, has a very prominent pale blue patch on its speculum. Unless it is a very immature bird, which it does not appear to be, this would resolve the question. Did you take any other photographs of the duck?

Yup it is the feet that confirm it for me.

Dang I missed those little guys last season! Now I know we had darn few bird at all last fall but I was shocked not to have my grey friends. Any body have gadwalls in the south delta last year?

M.B.

I searched my image files and I do not have an image of this duck with its wings down.
This shot was taken in the middle of December of 2001 at Hasserway Wetlands Mgt. Area.
This was a pretty good sized duck, when I say that I mean somewhere about the same size as a mallard.

[ April 26, 2002: Message edited by: Mississippi Photoman ]

How about a Greeenwing Cackling Coot? Or it could be a Redheaded Harlequin Fulvous Whistling Oldsquaw?? I had a couple of drake woodies laying in the back of my truck one morning and a gamewarden told me a had 1 too many mergansers so go figure!! [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]