Name the species

[gizmo]

We had a very unique bird come in this season. Can you name the species? To find out we actually sent pictures to the Smithsonian.

 

[Anbessa Gedai]

Looks like a North American Black Duck to me . . but I'm no Ornithologist . .

 

[Hunt anything]

Mexican duck drake

 

[Hunt anything]

Seen them in southern New Mexico and on a NWR in Nevada, going to go hunt them someday.

 

[Firebird]

I would agree that it is a Mexican duck drake-

 

[LivingTheDream]

Mottled duck

 

[BourbonTrail]

Mexican duck drake

+3

 

[LivingTheDream]

I have to revise my answer, based on the amount of white on the wings, I agree it is a Mexican Duck

 

[Deleted member 40394]

Mexican duck x mallard hybrid.
Final answer. 70% sure.

 

[Hunt anything]

The Mexican x mallard hybrids I’ve seen had a little green in the head and more white in the tail. But I’ve only seen a couple pictures that the manager of the Pahrangat NWR in Nevada sent me.

 

[Firebird]

Mottled ducks have a “clean head” without the black speckling-but they do show up in Texas. And they all interbreed-the variety is one reason I love waterfowl

 

[Rubberhead]

Mottled ducks have a “clean head” without the black speckling-but they do show up in Texas. And they all interbreed-the variety is one reason I love waterfowl

Unfortunately I don't have a Mexican duck to show it too.

 

[sestoppelman]

Blue winged spur fowl!

 

[crs]

I was about to say " don't know or care" until I saw SES had an answer, so I remained polite.
Not a Duck Hunter.

 

[Hunt anything]

We had a very unique bird come in this season. Can you name the species? To find out we actually sent pictures to the Smithsonian. View attachment 456068[

Where was it shot?

 

[gizmo]

Where was it shot?

In the Texas Panhandle about 45 min south east of Amarillo.

 

[Trogon]

My vote is drake Mexican Mallard. Speculum has a white border on top and bottom.

 

[gizmo]

So many of you are getting danger close to getting it. I’ll let it ride just a bit longer and give the answer.

 

[Trogon]

Northern mallard x Mexican mallard hybrid....Sibley guide states no "pure" Mexican mallards are found in the US? I thought they were separate species but lumped back together.

 

[gizmo]

So….. it is a hybrid. After taking 8 jillion pics of every angle possible and sending them off we were told it is a cross between a Mottled Duck and Mallard. (It is a Drake)
I thought it was a very cool and unique bird we got to mount. It was actually shot on public land that I hunt often. Naturally I never get lucky enough to get something like this but hey! Way cool, at least for those of us who are waterfowl nuts.