ABDs

The American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) is often found with Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), looks somewhat like the female of that ubiquitous species, and sometimes interbreeds with our most recognizable duck, making for hybrids that mix characteristics of the species. This pair looks relatively un-hybridized, with dark orange legs, dark feathers, strong eyeline, olive-yellowish bills. That’s a male in the top photo, very different from the male Mallard. This is the female. Her bill is duller. Neither of this pair was exposing their wing bars, which are dark blue and have no white edges like the Mallards. Because these little patches of color look like windows in the otherwise mottled feathers of ducks at rest, they are technically known as speculum, from the Latin for window. (But you ladies know that.)

The Anas genus of ducks includes a dozen species here in the East.