Hybrid duck on South Platte River at 88th and Colorado, Adams County

[Mary Keithler]

Hi all,

A group of Tuesday Birders visited the South Platte River in Adams County yesterday morning.  Rob Raker noticed an interesting hybrid duck just south of the bridge at 88th and Colorado.  He took several photos which can be viewed on the following website:

http://www.robraker.com/organize/Robs-Natural-World/Front-Range-Foothills/South-Platte-River

The duck looks like a combination of gadwall and shoveler to me, or perhaps gadwall and mallard.  I expect some hybrid experts can give us a more confident explanation of this duck's origins. 

Thanks,

Mary Keithler, Unincorporated Arapahoe County near Cherry Creek State Park

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[Deborah Carstensen]

Part ruddy duck?

Carstensen, Littleton, arapahoe county

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[Mary Keithler]

Hi Deb,

That was my first thought, but I was told the likelihood of a ruddy breeding with a dabbler (mallard, gadwall or shoveler) was pretty unlikely.  This duck was also fairly large, so a ruddy contribution seemed unlikely.  The white cheek did remind me of a ruddy, though.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Mary Keithler, Arapahoe County

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