Can anyone tell me what this duck is?

[wildinthecity]

This duck was seen with a group of mallards in the Little Rouge Creek in the GTA…My mystery duck is about half the size of the normal male mallards.
Any ideas?

All suggestions gratefully received.

Margaret
Wild in the City

[thouc]

The overall coloration looks like a domestic duck, but the small size is confusing. The small size and the head pattern has some similiraties to a Bufflehead. I haven't been able to find anything similar online.

/Thomas

[Paul O'Toole]

I am thinking a Mallard hybrid.

[Iain]

The green probably comes from Muscovy Duck.

[thouc]

Wonder if a hybrid between Muscovy Duck and Bufflehead is possible??? Seems like a very unlikely combination though as they are not closely related.

[Brian Bailey]

The small size, dark bill, lack of tail curl, and head shape all point away from a Mallard cross for me.  Maybe something like a Mandarin X Muscovy cross? It seems like another unlikely combination, but they are both often kept in captivity.  

BB

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