This duck was reported on 23rd Feb as a presumed Teal x Tufted Duck. Thinking this sounded interesting I went along to see it the next day. I wasn't convinced by the proposed ID but was not at all sure what it is. My initial view was that the similarities to Hottentot Teal were too great to be coincidental, but Silver Teal is also a possible parent. David Russell has kindly informed me that an escaped Silver Teal was present at the site the previous August - this may be coincidental but with little else to go on it was enough to change my speculative view. The second parent is equally uncertain, though it seems to be an Aythya sp. and Tufted Duck is a strong contender.
So Silver Teal x Tufted Duck is my best guess, but the originally suggested ID of Teal x Tufted Duck is also still in the frame - at the moment we don't have enough info about what females of this hybrid should look like, and that would be a more likely ID. Other comments would be welcome.
Unfortunately it was a bit too distant for decent shots; my best efforts are here with some commentary below:
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hybrid duck, Cantley Beet Factory (Norfolk, UK), 24th February 2008. Most obvious feature is the pale cheeks contrasting with the dark crown (coming down round eye) and nape. Also note the Pintail-like bill, quite pale bluish grey with a dark culmen. Dark on the face at the base of the bill, bulging at the gape. One or two photos seem to show a red eye, but the quality isn't clear enough to be sure - this wasn't noticed in the field. The white trailing edge to the secondaries was sometimes visible on the closed wing.
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hybrid duck, Cantley Beet Factory (Norfolk, UK), 24th February 2008. Note the rather plain dark brown back contrasting with the plain-ish paler brown flanks. The contrast always seemed stronger when the bird was facing slightly away, as in the right hand photo here. Note the curvature of this border - rather Aythya like? Tail often held flat against the water like the diving ducks but often in the air where appeared quite pointy.
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hybrid duck, Cantley Beet Factory (Norfolk, UK), 24th February 2008. With Teals for size comparison - pretty much the same size - seemed a fraction larger in the field.
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hybrid duck, Cantley Beet Factory (Norfolk, UK), 24th February 2008. This bird was constantly feeding. It never dived but held its head further under than most dabbling ducks tend to.
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hybrid duck, Cantley Beet Factory (Norfolk, UK), 24th February 2008. Rubbish flight shots but show how conspicuous the white trailing edge to the secondaries was. Underwing appeared quite pale but precise pattern not clinched.
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