Help Identifying a Duck
#1
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 0
From: in the woods or on the water...
I commented on tred's post about his Saturday limit, but I don't want to overtake his post.
When in the air I thought this was a young Wood Duck.
I even picked it up and thought so until I looked closer. I have never shot nor seen this duck up close.
It is a diver, and have very little white on its underside. The breast was the same color as its back. Dark brown bill (I thought it was possibly a bluebill).
Bird on the Right in both pictures.


Thanks Fellas!
When in the air I thought this was a young Wood Duck.
I even picked it up and thought so until I looked closer. I have never shot nor seen this duck up close.
It is a diver, and have very little white on its underside. The breast was the same color as its back. Dark brown bill (I thought it was possibly a bluebill).
Bird on the Right in both pictures.


Thanks Fellas!
#2
Wow buck... thats confusing.
It definitely looks like a woodie at first glance, but the bill is noticabley thicker and a different color, the tail isn't as broad, and its missing the blue speculum on the wings... It looks lit is has just a little bit of a white ring around the eyes, but that is also not as pronounced as the woodies white eye ring...
I'm not sure what to say on this one. It looks like it could be a mixed duck...
It look almost like a redhead hen, but is missing some distinct features, such as the slightly lighter shaded ring around the front of the bill.
It definitely looks like a woodie at first glance, but the bill is noticabley thicker and a different color, the tail isn't as broad, and its missing the blue speculum on the wings... It looks lit is has just a little bit of a white ring around the eyes, but that is also not as pronounced as the woodies white eye ring...
I'm not sure what to say on this one. It looks like it could be a mixed duck...
It look almost like a redhead hen, but is missing some distinct features, such as the slightly lighter shaded ring around the front of the bill.
#3
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 0
From: in the woods or on the water...
I'm stumped, hopefully someone can shed some light. I have honestly googled every hen duck I can think of and came up with nothing.
Everything you said is exactly correct, the tail is very sparse, wider, thicker bill, missing speculum. No idea what I had on my hands?
Very smallduck though, I thought those woodies were small until I seen him zippin' in.
Everything you said is exactly correct, the tail is very sparse, wider, thicker bill, missing speculum. No idea what I had on my hands?
Very smallduck though, I thought those woodies were small until I seen him zippin' in.
#4
It's a hen diver... possibly being a later summer hatch, hence why so small and non colored. Looks like maybe a hen ringneck? If you were in NC I'd say thats what it was. Might be a hybrid...
#5
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 0
From: in the woods or on the water...
I have now been swayed to thnking it is a ringneck.
The only thing is hen ringnecks have a light line on their beak, this one doesn't. But thanks guys!
Anyone going out this week/weekend?
The only thing is hen ringnecks have a light line on their beak, this one doesn't. But thanks guys!
Anyone going out this week/weekend?
#6
ORIGINAL: buckhunter14
The only thing is hen ringnecks have a light line on their beak, this one doesn't.
The only thing is hen ringnecks have a light line on their beak, this one doesn't.
#7
Maybe a scaup
Hard to tell for those pics.
check here, maybe it'll help.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/duckdist/index.htm
Hard to tell for those pics.
check here, maybe it'll help.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/duckdist/index.htm
#8
Fork Horn
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
That is a hen ring necked duck. It is probably a young 'bird of the year', but there is no doubt in my mind that it is a ringneck. You'll notice the bit of white shading on the face, that is a dead giveaway for a ring neck hen.
#10
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,832
Likes: 0
From: in the woods or on the water...
I thought they looked a lot alike tred. Where do you hunt in Michigan?
I live in West MI, and have a cabin north of Little Bay de Noc in the U.P.
I live in West MI, and have a cabin north of Little Bay de Noc in the U.P.


