Mondo Ponds Redheads, 6 Mar 14

A record shot of a drake Redhead at Mondo Ponds in Milford.  Also in photo, what I take to be a hen Redhead (light color at base of bill common for female Redhead as well as more marked white on Scaup).  Told from other Aythya ducks by head shape and overall tawny coloring, and grayish back; also pattern of black at bill tip which surrounds entire bill tip, in contrast to either Greater or Lesser Scaup.  No Pintail today, but present a Common Merganser.  Other ducks included many Ring-necked, Hooded Mergansers, American Wigeon, a few Gadwall, Coots, many Mallards.  One note: much mention in BNA and Sibley re possible hybridization of Aythya species.

Drake Redhead with hen? and hen American Wigeon, Mallard, drake Ring-necked