This is a duck. Obviously. If you don't happen to know the species and want to, Here are four "birder" things you could try. Maybe five. If you don't really care that much.
1) Take a wild guess.
2) Look it up in a field guide. (Recommended).
3) Hover over the photo with your mouse.
4) Simply scroll down to the bottom of the page.
5) Or of course simply skip the whole ID thing and look at the pictures.
Here's a list of hints. Free.
1) It’s a diving duck (as opposed to a dabbling duck which eats off the bottom by tipping its bottom skyward.)
2) It’s usually very quiet.
3) It’s common.
4) The male duck’s bill turns blue in breeding season.
They don’t just dive to eat. They do it also to evade predators. And photographers. It’s a simple trick. They dive, then come up. A long way off. Not where you expect.
But this time I was not where he expected. And as he came around the bend I snapped. Then he ducked.
After that I didn't see him come up. At all. I kept looking. And after a while I spotted him. A very long way off. But the tide had changed and was carrying him toward me. So I got behind a bush. Sat in the mud. And waited…and waited. I peeked through the bush once. Still coming. But taking his sweet time about it.
I thought maybe he knew I was there. So. I covered my camera and lay on my belly. In the mud. Now I find it very hard to photograph that way because I can't see well. Especially with a bush in front of me. But I can see motion, and he was about to drift into view. Finally.
Well framed photo. Don't you think? :)
This is not a duck.
The real duck is named Ruddy Duck.
