American Wigeon X Mallard

[Brian Bailey]

I found this American Wigeon X Mallard hybrid in the pond at Col Sam Smith Park today.  They're not great photos, but they at least show the plumage details and give a good comparison with a normal Mallard:


I don't think this is the same bird that I and others have seen in the area previously.  The face & crown are paler, and the cheek patch is distinctly buffy.  The previous bird's cheek patch was white.

BB

Oops, accidentally put this in the ID section rather than the Ontario Birds photo section.

[Brian Bailey]

This doesn't look like the bird photographed here in the spring of 2013 & 2014, but it does look like the one photographed in December 2012.  http://ebird.org/ebird/canada/view/checklist?subID=S12410659
Seasonal variation or two different birds?  Seems like it should be in breeding plumage now, the same as in spring.

BB