DuckSouth.com

looks like a Duck to me...

mallard x spoonbill..........i think, but i don't claim to be the expert.....

thewaterfowler will know for sure.

gator

Looks like a gray-bearded homo sapiens, but I could be wrong.

Gadwall/shoveler? Shovewall?

Gadwall x Shoveler. That's the 3rd I've ever seen. White in the lower speculum (gadwalls are the only to have it there) is a dead giveaway.

You have a close-up picture of the bill. Not a Brewer's but a Shoveler/Gadwall like the two that I have seen. Gadwall tertails, Shoveler scaps, foot color in between the two and no markings on the black bill indicative of both species. Have one I killed in Mexico and mounted another killed in Arkansas.

arduckslayer wrote:Gadwall x Shoveler. That's the 3rd I've ever seen. White in the lower speculum (gadwalls are the only to have it there) is a dead giveaway.

missed that. i agree.

gator

arduckslayer wrote:Gadwall x Shoveler. That's the 3rd I've ever seen. White in the lower speculum (gadwalls are the only to have it there) is a dead giveaway.

X2

That is a Speckle Belly Buffed Back for sure.

Where does the white markings on the head come from???

cwink wrote:Where does the white markings on the head come from???

It's not white, it's gadwall tan. You looking at it on your phone? It may appear that way if you are looking at it as a small image.

As my ornithology professor once said, "It's the nature of the beast." It's the combinations of genes that form the make-up of the head and that is the end product. It is cream and not actually white like previously said. Not all hybrids have identical feathers to the parents, but a combination of a blend with tell-tale markers of both the parents.

I am not doubting yall on the shoveler/gadwall mix, But it sure looks white too me.. maybe my eyes are just whacked.. Almost looks like it was trying to put on the white spot on the head like a Canada goose..

that looks white to me also.