|
English
and Scientific names: |
Black Duck, Anas rubripes |
|
Number
of individuals: |
1, sex unknown, no plumage variations observed, this bird was
very dark brown, with fine brown stripes on head, neck, and face.
Bounded into flight when flushed flashing silvery white underwings.
Speculum had no white borders, and was violet-blue. Bill was olive
drab. |
|
Locality:
LOUISIANA: |
Rapides |
|
Specific
Locality: |
Cheneyville/Echo Rd, at the catfish farm ponds on the farthest
pond from the road. |
|
Date(s)
when observed: |
30 Dec 1993 |
|
Time(s)
of day when observed: |
1 Pm |
|
Reporting
observer and address: |
Hubert Hervey, Stonewall LA |
|
Other observers
accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s): |
Bird Study Group, with Jim Ingold, and Rosemary Seidler, several
others |
|
Other observers who
independently identified the bird(s) |
Jim Ingold who has lots of Black Duck experience, I have shot a
couple here at Stonewall about Dec 1949. |
|
Light conditions
(position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light): |
Full sun, side lit and front lit |
|
Optical
equipment: |
60 X Swift Ultralites, and many various binoculars |
|
Distance
to bird(s): |
Near as 30 yards |
|
Duration
of observation: |
20 minutes |
|
Habitat:
|
Manmade and managed catfish ponds, having shallow waters with
grass and some weeds.We had located Vermillion Flycatchers in the local area,
bumped into a Say's Phoebe, and then came across the American Black Duck. |
|
Behavior
of bird: |
Rapid ascent when flushed, high flight, circling back to near by
pond. Not especially nervous on the water. |
|
Description: |
Basic Mallard size duck, very dark brown, red legs, edging of
body feathers not noticeably different in color from heart of feather.
Blueish purple speculum with not white linings. |
|
Voice: |
Not heard |
|
Similar species: |
Similarity to Mallard hen recognized and eliminated by dark
color and speculum. Similarity to Mottled
Duck recognized and struggled with by Jim Ingold and myself, and decided that
face and neck streaks, and very dark brown body color, with no mottling
caused by feather edging of lighter color, effectively eliminated this sp. |
|
Photographs or tape recordings
obtained? |
None |
|
Previous experience with
this species: |
Jim Ingold had plenty, I had those I killed years prior, and
since have seen hundreds in NY and Minn. |
|
Identification
aids: |
Peterson, National Geographic guides |
|
This
description is written from: |
Memory. |
|
Are you positive of your
identification? If not, explain: |
Possibility of Mottled still exists. |
|
Date
and time: |
30 Dec 93 |