Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2020-76
| Common name: |
Mexican Duck |
| Scientific name: | Anas diazi |
| Date: | 12/05/2020 |
| Time: | 1:40p |
| Length of time observed: | 10-15 min |
| Number: | 1 |
| Age: | adult |
| Sex: | male |
| Location: | Oquirrh Lake, Daybreak, UT |
| County: | Salt Lake |
| Latilong: | 40.553022821346836, -112.0053577316148 |
| Elevation: | 1,483 MASL |
| Distance to bird: | 30 meters |
| Optical equipment: | Vortex Diamondback 10x42 HD binoculars & Nikon D4 SLR w/ 300 mm lens |
| Weather: | clear, calm |
| Light Conditions: | excellent, low angle sun to my back, bird out front (looking NE) |
| Description: Size of bird: | comparable to Mallard |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | duck (Mallard) |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Rich brown, mottled, contrasting head |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | duck, uniform color (yellow) |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Overall impression is rich, brown version of female Mallard with contrasting
light head, dark eye line, and dark cap. Bill is black-tipped, medium yellow
with no hint of a saddle or other colors. There are hundreds (maybe thousands)
of Mallards present here and this is the only one that I could find that looks
like this. (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | N/A |
| Behavior: | Walking on thin ice, feeding/drinking from puddles on the ice. Mixed in with Canada Geese, Mallards, gulls, and other waterfowl. |
| Habitat: | Series of shallow ponds (manmade lakes) with marsh grasses planted along the banks. |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Obvious comparison is to Mallard. Specifically adult male in non-breeding or eclipse plumage. All references I could find did not show the richness in brown coloration or amount of mottling on the wings and flanks. All other Mallards that I have seen here (and there are many) are noticeably past this plumage phase. Females have the orange bills with dark saddle. This one a smoothly even, medium yellow color with black tip. Honestly, I went back and forth on this bird quite a bit... ultimately decided it was worth the review as 2020 seems to be a crazy year for rare birds and this spot (Oquirrh Lake) has proven to be a magnet for rarities for some reason (GWFG, LTDU, CACG, BAGO, others all confirmed here recently). |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Mallards of course in droves, but this one looked immediately different. |
| References consulted: | Nat Geo 7th edition, Sibley's 2nd edition, eBird, other on-line searches |
| Description from: |
Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Joe Dziedzina |
| Observer's address: | 11350 Sandy Gulch Road |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | None (yet), but I did submit a checklist on eBird so others may follow. |
| Date prepared: | 12/05/2020 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | Photos (5) emailed to address as directed. |