Aythya Hybrid

A interesting Aythya duck arrived just over two weeks ago on 23rd October. At first it kept its distance and identification was a little tricky , but over time it has become more confiding and the features of Pochard X Tufted Duck can clearly be seen . Hybrids can always prove a challenge until true parentage becomes obvious. The male of this pairing can be confused with Scaup but are generally smaller and can have a peaked head appearance . The Pochard influence makes the mantle and flanks darker , greyer and more solid looking than Scaup , while head may show a brown tint at close range. Unlike Scaup bill shows large black tip and wing stripe shows grey colouration characteristic of Pochard. Just look at the middle image and see how much the head colour can change at different angles.