Black is beautiful
- Thread starter mike braden
- Start date
Dave Sikorski
Well-known member
Of course I'd count that as my black duck as would every CO I've ever known. I'm simply stating what a biologist has said when coming across ducks similar to the one pictured. Heck, it might be 100% black, who knows.
Here's a duck from last week that we counted as a mallard. We didn't take any blacks that day, but counted this one as our 16th and final mallard. It's wings were all mallard and he had vermiculation on the sides and a curl or two.
Like I said, susie black ducks need to stop slummin with the greenheads @ the park.
-D
Here's a duck from last week that we counted as a mallard. We didn't take any blacks that day, but counted this one as our 16th and final mallard. It's wings were all mallard and he had vermiculation on the sides and a curl or two.
Like I said, susie black ducks need to stop slummin with the greenheads @ the park.
-D
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Bob B
Well-known member
OK
Ill ask, any link or photos, to help with the male\female black duck ID issue?
Not even getting started in the Hybrid thing. It is whatever the most conservative call for the game laws is on that front, unless you like wasting your time and the judges explaining how you know so much about mallards having a party with the girls over the fence from the outside of town!!!!!!
Ill ask, any link or photos, to help with the male\female black duck ID issue?
Not even getting started in the Hybrid thing. It is whatever the most conservative call for the game laws is on that front, unless you like wasting your time and the judges explaining how you know so much about mallards having a party with the girls over the fence from the outside of town!!!!!!
mike braden
Well-known member
Dave S - you previously stated that you thought my pic was of a hybrid because of the slight white on the wing. Blacks can have a slight white line or none at all.
Your pic shows a completely different looking bird. I realize that this bird was recently shot and the one that you were orginally comparing it to that the CO called a hybrid was at an earlier time. Show me pics of that if you have them This bird is an obvious mix by the darker chest area as compared to the rest of the belly like a drake Mallard along with the greeninsh head and it appears the feathers there are a little longer as well. Obvious mix.
CO's can be wrong and if one wanted to to say that the one my friend shot is a cross, I'd tell them to just count it as a Pintail.
Your pic shows a completely different looking bird. I realize that this bird was recently shot and the one that you were orginally comparing it to that the CO called a hybrid was at an earlier time. Show me pics of that if you have them This bird is an obvious mix by the darker chest area as compared to the rest of the belly like a drake Mallard along with the greeninsh head and it appears the feathers there are a little longer as well. Obvious mix.
CO's can be wrong and if one wanted to to say that the one my friend shot is a cross, I'd tell them to just count it as a Pintail.
mike braden
Well-known member
Bob - feel free to scroll up a little and see the pics that were previously posted by me showing the difference between a Mallard and a Black and the difference between the drake/hen Black.
The male and female black duck are generally similar in appearance, but the male's bill is yellow while the females is a dull green
The male and female black duck are generally similar in appearance, but the male's bill is yellow while the females is a dull green
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mike braden
Well-known member
Old Sly himself. See what crazy looking kids this guy produces.
Hen Mallard
Mallard/ Black cross
Mallard/Black cross
Mallard/Gadwell cross
Mallard/GWT cross.....that's gotta hurt
Mallard/Widgeon cross
Mallard/Pintail cross
Dave Sikorski
Well-known member
Mike-
I said that a USFWS wing study told a friend of mine that a duck that had a wing exactly like the one you shot was a hybrid. I do not know if they did anything more than look at the wing to determine that.
So, based on what USFWS said and the dark upper tail coverts and appearance of curls, I said I think your duck might be a hybrid.
If I shot the duck that you would, I would count it as a black duck and anyone that would do differently would have one heck of a time proving his point in court.
Want me to pay for a DNA test for that duck or something? Hybrid or not, I don't care, I'm just sharing what I've heard about blacks b/c I find it interesting.
-D
I said that a USFWS wing study told a friend of mine that a duck that had a wing exactly like the one you shot was a hybrid. I do not know if they did anything more than look at the wing to determine that.
So, based on what USFWS said and the dark upper tail coverts and appearance of curls, I said I think your duck might be a hybrid.
If I shot the duck that you would, I would count it as a black duck and anyone that would do differently would have one heck of a time proving his point in court.
Want me to pay for a DNA test for that duck or something? Hybrid or not, I don't care, I'm just sharing what I've heard about blacks b/c I find it interesting.
-D
Paul Meisenheimer
Well-known member
A friend of mine who is a waterfowl biologist spent a good part of his career studying black ducks. He has done extensive DNA testing and tells me that black ducks are more closely related genetically to certain mallard populations than the east and west mallard are to each other. How's that for throwing a twist into the mix?
mike braden
Well-known member
Dave - not picking a fight. I posted the wikipedia showing that "true" blacks can have a faint white line (which this one does) or it can be without.
I understand your initial point about the tail feathers of which I addressed that it was because of how the bird was sitting in the boat. You said that you had a feather "exactly" like this one and you were told that it was a hybrid. I just wanted to see a pic of it if you had it. Maybe that white line was much thicker? Maybe it was anterior and posterior? Those would be some determining factors. Just questioning because you said that it looked "exactly" the same. I see no reason at all to think that this is a hybrid and wikipedia along with an internet search confirms this.
CO, biologist and yes even me have been wrong on occasion. Maybe because I physically saw the bird and I am not just looking at a photo as you are.?
Have a Merry Christmas and thanks for joining in on the discussion on this topic.
I understand your initial point about the tail feathers of which I addressed that it was because of how the bird was sitting in the boat. You said that you had a feather "exactly" like this one and you were told that it was a hybrid. I just wanted to see a pic of it if you had it. Maybe that white line was much thicker? Maybe it was anterior and posterior? Those would be some determining factors. Just questioning because you said that it looked "exactly" the same. I see no reason at all to think that this is a hybrid and wikipedia along with an internet search confirms this.
CO, biologist and yes even me have been wrong on occasion. Maybe because I physically saw the bird and I am not just looking at a photo as you are.?
Have a Merry Christmas and thanks for joining in on the discussion on this topic.
mike braden
Well-known member
Bob - I am not aware of any known feather differences. Sometimes the bill color is a bit off which can make it tricky. You could palpate for the penis but at that point, does it really matter? Merry Christmas!
Paul Meisenheimer
Well-known member
I shot a "Black" a few weeks back that appeared to be a black in every way except the speculum. The posterior line was a little too bold and the anterior line, although faint, was clearly there. When I was looking at a picture of the same bird the other day you couldn't see that detail.
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Chuck J
Well-known member
Well, I'll just say that sighting Wiki is not the strongest arguement...it has been known to be wrong on more than one occaision...not that it is necessarly here...
That aside, very interesting discussion. If I ever got into a questionable hybrid, would likely count it as BOTH a mallard and Black in my bag limit, so if confrunted by a CO, I would be free and clear regardless of which way he thought it should be counted. Ain't no duck worth the cost of a ticket, court time, lawyers and possibly loosing my hunting rights.
Best
Chuck
D Dominski
Active member
Mike:
I have hunted for over 35 years. The "Black Duck" is one of the toughtest birds to hunt. Everything in & around your Blind / Rig has to be perfect. I reguard they as one of the smartest waterfoul to hunt over. To bad the limit is SO LOW.
Great Pictures, D Dominski
I have hunted for over 35 years. The "Black Duck" is one of the toughtest birds to hunt. Everything in & around your Blind / Rig has to be perfect. I reguard they as one of the smartest waterfoul to hunt over. To bad the limit is SO LOW.
Great Pictures, D Dominski
Steve Tull
Member
great pictures
Tim B(tbrom)
Active member
I saw this pintailXmallard a month or so ago.
And this guy is from December
And this guy is from December
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