Bird Calls Radio's Bird of the Day for Tuesday, Aug. 30

Sorry the delay in updating the site: no power, no internet.

Anyway … The Bird Calls Radio’s Bird of the Day for Tuesday, Aug. 30, is the black duck.

Black ducks present a challenge to beginning birders as they resemble female and elipse plumaged male  mallards. Mallards, of course, are our most common and easily identified duck. Black ducks throw a wrench in that equation as black ducks are often found near mallards. Many beginning birdwatchers may be looking at black ducks, but thinking they are mallards.

Both black ducks and mallards are the same size and basically the same color, although black ducks are darker (but not actually black). Both species also have a stripe through their eyes and colorful speculum feathers. They also sound similar. To make matters worse, black ducks and mallards often interbreed.

Black ducks have a brighter yellow bill, however, while a mallard’s bill is dark brown or orange. Mallards also have white outlines on the speculum (feathers on either side near the rear).

Black ducks are still somewhat common in the Northeast, but are declining in other  parts of the country.

Be sure to check out Bird Calls every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. on WSTC/WNLK AM1400/1350 (in S. CT and nearby NY) or www.wstcwnlk.com from anywhere in the world (where there’s Internet access, that is.) Thanks for checking in.