Wild Mallard

Swan Lake- Wild Mallard. July 12, 2013. When I first took this photograph, I had thought it was one of the zoo's Laysan Ducks that can be found in Swan Lake. It was only when posting did I notice the lack of the white eye-patch.

Laysan Duck

This is a Mallard. Laysan are much smaller, of a darker brown ground colour, with varying amounts of white round the eye. Young birds in first plumage may have no white, while really elderly ones can have white heads. An under-rated and very entertaining little duck.

FBBird said:

This is a Mallard. Laysan are much smaller, of a darker brown ground colour, with varying amounts of white round the eye. Young birds in first plumage may have no white, while really elderly ones can have white heads. An under-rated and very entertaining little duck.

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I thought so for this individual. I guess you just have to take my word on there are Laysan Ducks in this exhibit I visited the zoo on two days and the first one I saw ducks that looks exactly like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Male_Laysan_Duck.jpg

It was on the second day that I took this photo thinking perhaps it was one of them not noticing the lack of the white eye-patch until posting.

~Thylo