[obol] Hybrid Mallard x Northern Pintail

[Scott Carpenter]

Yesterday I came across an interesting duck at Crystal Springs Rhododendron
Garden, which is near Reed College in SE Portland.  The duck appeared to be
a cross between a Mallard and Northern Pintail.  The head stood out as being
that of a female Northern Pintail, but the outer tail feathers on a floating
bird were white like a Mallard (or perhaps Shoveler?).  The speculum
appeared bluish-green, not the bluish-purple of nearby Mallards in the same
light.  While the plumage of the bird stood out from nearby Mallards, the
structure of the bird did not.  A photo of this duck is online at:

http://www.westerngrebe.com/duck2/

I'd be curious what others think about this duck.

Scott Carpenter
Portland
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