Re: [Maine-birds] Duck Identification Question

A relatively small list of ducks in the world have blue or blue-gray forewings. There are Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teals, Garganey, and four species of shovelers. Given only two species of those are likely on Lake Josephine, I think we've got a good chance at identifying this bird. You were at the right web site for help--Sam Carney's duck identification by wing plumage is a classic. Take a look at this page showing the upper wings of the Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teals: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/duckplum/bwciteal.htm
Taking into account the small bill and gray face pattern, your bird fits Blue-winged Teal. Even when they are not at their fanciest, males of both Cinnamon and Blue-winged can be told by a prominent white bar behind the bluish forewing. So your bird is a female. The pattern of the body feathers with neat and entire fringes around all dark feathers (look at those bigger oval feathers to the rear of the wing on the hind flank) together with the wing pattern suggest it is an immature. So that's my guess, immature female Blue-winged Teal.

Louis Bevier
Fairfield

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