I have been to Birdsland in Belgrave (in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, Australia) countless times but I have never seen this kind of duck (with a yellow beak) before. Anyone know the species? I took this pic a few days ago.
Here is some of the feedback I received on social media :
Graham B. > "Probably Black Duck x with a domestic mallard type" Clare R. > "Looks like a lady mallard. Sub sp "Yellow Lipstick" Robyn M. > "Not sure John but my first thought is a black duck. Good pick." Kate W. > "Looks like a Pacific Black Duck. Maybe the beak is a mutation?" Stuart C. > "Female northern mallard?" Terree T. > "It might just be a Mallard duck." Bryan C. > "Wood duck" Tamara G. > "The native and introduced ducks breed and produce hybrids like this." Frances L. > "hybrids have been known to be stronger. Plumed Whistling Duck? or black bellied whistling duck?" Chez S. > "Feral domestic duck, with some Mallard ancestry."