This is definitely a black duck, but not an American Black Duck. No, it’s an American duck because it’s in Brighton, Michigan, but it isn’t an American Black Duck. Confused? Let me obfiscate the issue a bit more: if this was an American Black Duck it wouldn’t be black at all. Now do you understand? I thought so.
With its olive-colored bill tucked into its feathered back, it’s difficult to tell what is duck and what is the black of night in this image. If its eye didn’t reflect my camera’s flash with an unworldly raspberry glow, I doubt you would know it’s an animal at all. The larger image gives you more clues. I like how the feathers have iridescent qualities like those of ravens and there’s a faint sheen of green on its head.
Could it be a Black Duck/Mallard hybrid?
http://www.saputophotography.com/Nature/Wildlife/8608098_w8eWP/1/632105513_V7hFK#632105513_V7hFK-A-LB
Yes, it could be but it’s much darker than the one in that photograph and it has an olive green and black bill. On a future spring day, I’ll take another photo of it so more of its coloration will show.
[...] “glamor shot” of the pond’s only all black duck last February that hinted at her beauty. But she’s had a hard time of it since. In early spring, she developed a limp. She’s a [...]