Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Mexican Duck
Scientific name:	Anas Diazi
Date:	2/10/2026
Time:	12:52
Length of time observed:	10 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Provo River in Provo near State Street
County:	Utah
Latilong:	Salt Lake City-Provo
Elevation:	4550
Distance to bird:	10 feet
Optical equipment:	8 x 43 Zen Ray binoculars
Weather:	Cloudy
Light Conditions:	diffused light from clouds
Description: Size of bird:	similar in size to nearby female Mallards
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Duck shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	brown and buffy tones with a bright yellow bill
(Description:) Bill Type:	duck bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I was walking the Provo River trail with Natalie Tanner and bumped into another birder named Ella Hiatt who was looking at a group of Mallard type ducks. After a brief look I quickly noticed that one was a good candidate for a male Mexican Duck. It had a bright yellow bill, brown in the under tail, no obvious black on the rump or under tail. I couldn't see any green feathers in the head, and also couldn't see any on the rump. In the right light the secondary area had a tealish green color. That's the best I can think to describe the color, and you can see the color in some of the photos. It also had mostly as far as I could tell buffy tail edging with maybe it being a bit cream in areas. The breast seemed to lack any obvious rufous tones as it actively fed in front of us. It also had a couple tail feathers that were sticking up, similar to the bird at the lower Provo River. I initially wondered if it was the same bird, but comparing the two birds, they are different, and the other bird was seen around the same time we were seeing this bird miles away. It had a black eye strip, a black streaked cheek, and black streaked crown. The feet were bright orange when it got up on the rocks briefly. We took some photos and departed. I came back a few later with Eli Philips and got great comparison looks at the different colored speculum next to the mallards it was with. I have done a lot of research and reading up on Mexican Ducks and it would appear research supports some Mallard traits on genetically pure birds. I have provided a link that goes into depth on the subject. I think although you get a bit of tail feather lifting, I think it falls within the bounds of a pure Mexican Duck. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	none heard
Behavior:	It was actively feeding with a pair of female mallards on the river.
Habitat:	Riparian River Corridor in urban environment.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Mallard- Female Mallards would be the most likely local bird to be confused with this bird, but the overall darker tones, bright yellow bill, and brown undertail coverts eliminate a female Mallard Mottled Duck- A Mottled Duck would have a more obvious black gape marking, cleaner and lighter cheek, and a much more narrow white on the speculum. Mexican Duck x Mallard hybrid- This is the one I really needed to exclude when trying to identify this bird. The lack of any obvious mallard traits like some green in the head, full tail curl, black on the under tail and rump, and also rufous in the breast.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I've seen them multiple times in Utah and also in southern Arizona.
References consulted:	This nature.com article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-14270-2 Also Sibley and Macaulay Library. I also talked with multiple high level birders locally.
Description from:	Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	KC Childs
Observer's address:	Orem, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Natalie Tanner, Eli Philips, Ella Hiatt
Date prepared:	2-26-2026
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Ella Hiatt has given me permission to use her photos that I have emailed in. Also Natalie has some on our joint checklist from that day.