Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Mexican Duck
Scientific name:	Anas diazi
Date:	May 16, 2020
Time:	5:47 pm
Length of time observed:	15 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Powell Lake in Lehi
County:	Utah
Latilong:	40.38, -111.9
Elevation:	About 4,600 feet
Distance to bird:	20 yards or so
Optical equipment:	Nikon Monarch 10.5x45 binoculars, Nikon D80 camera with Nikon 55-300 zoom lens.
Weather:	Sunny
Light Conditions:	Some glare from the water, but the photos weren't taken in the direction of the sun.
Description: Size of bird:	A little larger than the female Mallard it was with
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Duck-shaped
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark brown overall with considerable patterning in lighter colors
(Description:) Bill Type:	Mallard-shaped, yellow in color
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Dark brown overall with some lighter brown mixed in, light brown head, yellow bill, some whitish showing in the tail. I will submit photos. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	None heard
Behavior:	Swimming in the company of a female Mallard, generally moving away from people observing them from the shore.
Habitat:	Small "lake" (pond) in Lehi with nearby homes, a street, and one side with trees.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	It appeared larger and darker than the accompanying Mallard, but it was obviously Mallard-shaped and close to the same size as the female Mallard.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	None with this species; lots of observations of Mallards.
References consulted:	Cornell's eBird and Merlin app.
Description from:	From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Noel Zaugg
Observer's address:	268 Sweetwater Drive, Springville, UT 84663
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Several other birders had reported the bird on eBird, where I found out about it. Two other people were observing it while I was there, one of them through a spotting scope. I did not ask for their names.
Date prepared:	July 17, 2020
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	The individual observing through the spotting scope said she thought she could see a hint of green on its head that I could not see through binoculars or camera. Michael Lester encouraged me to submit this report along with my photos. It has taken me a while to get around to it.