Mallard x Laysan Duck

captive presumed Mallard x Laysan Duck hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 12th March 2011 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0355)

The identity of this duck remained a mystery to me until Joern Lehmhus found a photo of what were described as "ginger" variant Laysan Ducks.  Duck breeders can acquire some strange-looking birds through selective breeding but whilst I wouldn't expect a hybrid between a wild-type Mallard and a Laysan Duck to look much like this, I can't reconcile this bird's appearance with any pure Laysan Duck.  The bill colour and the curled tail feather both suggest Mallard involvement.  While it was smaller than Mallards it did not seem as small as Laysan Duck.

captive presumed Mallard x Laysan Duck hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 12th March 2011 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo ID: 0356)

The following photos presumably relate to the same bird:

captive presumed Mallard x Laysan Duck hybrid, Blakeney Collection (Norfolk, UK), 14th December 2010 - copyright Dave Appleton

(photo IDs: 0348-0354)

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos

Laysan Duck Anas laysanensis