Mystery duck...

...anyone up for a game of "Name That Duck"? I found this guy/girl on my way to look for the Snowy Owls, and after checking my books and online, I have no idea what this is. My best guess is a Ruddy Duck in non-breeding plumage, but it doesn't quite fit either. Any ideas? Sorry they're not very pretty shots, they were taken on a very overcast day, and the strong winds we've had have the Lake Michigan near-shore water really churned up.

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Byte size: ZERO | PHOTOBUCKET ERROR IMAGE

He's cute, but no idea what he is. Sorry lol. I'm still learning the birds of So Cal much less anywhere else lol.

You're right though, he doesn't quite fit a ruddy duck in off breeding season plumage. Example (not my photo):
http://avise-birds.bio.uci.edu …es/3rudu_male_n​b_copy.jpg

Edit:
googling turned this up. Maybe it will help you out for this guy and other birds you can't quite ID?
http://www.michiganaud​ubon.org …/identification​_help.html

I half wonder if it may be a juvenile of a species, but your mystery duck doesn't quite fit the bill for a juvenile ruddy duck, either.

Long tailed Duck

http://identify.whatbi​rd.com …6/_/Long-tailed_Duck.aspx

SkyBaby wrote in post #15255710
He's cute, but no idea what he is. Sorry lol. I'm still learning the birds of So Cal much less anywhere else lol.

You're right though, he doesn't quite fit a ruddy duck in off breeding season plumage. Example (not my photo):
http://avise-birds.bio.uci.edu …es/3rudu_male_n​b_copy.jpg

Edit:
googling turned this up. Maybe it will help you out for this guy and other birds you can't quite ID?
http://www.michiganaud​ubon.org …/identification​_help.html

I half wonder if it may be a juvenile of a species, but your mystery duck doesn't quite fit the bill for a juvenile ruddy duck, either.

chubri777 wrote in post #15255877
Long tailed Duck

http://identify.whatbi​rd.com …6/_/Long-tailed_Duck.aspx

Thank you very much for the help, input, and links! I figured it out today too while out in the field with another bird photographer friend of mine. We found her again today, and I managed to get some much better shots. They're somewhat uncommon around here, so I wish we'd find a male to photograph too!

Long-tailed Duck; also called Oldsquaw, sometimes

Nice captures

Nice shots...He/she sure looks cold.

I was thinking the name was Daffy! lol
Great pics, well done.

Hehe, nice pics. Anyone want to try this one?

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

Nice shots, adorable duck.

DarkPhantom wrote in post #15387612
Hehe, nice pics. Anyone want to try this one?

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

yuk duk, park duck, domestic duck....any name you want to give it.

Looks like a Muscovy to me

Nicely done Mike~