Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Dufferin Island, Niagara Falls, Ontario 20 February 2010 Melanie and I found this strange looking mallard sleeping on a frozen portion of the Niagara River. A little bit of research led me to believe this is a domestic form of mallard, commonly called the "Saxony"-type. May also be a hybrid between a wild and Saxony-type mallard, but it would take a geneticist to know for sure. A special thanks goes out to Charlie at 10000birds.com for his thorough and enlightening post on domestic mallard breeds.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Dufferin Island, Niagara Falls, Ontario 20 February 2010
Bufflehead (male) Bucephala albeola Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Toronto, Ontario 22 February 2010 Rough waters on Lake Ontario forced several species of duck close to the shores at Colonel Samuel Smith Park. Although overcast skies obscured the lighting, you can still see the iridescent plumage on the face of this male bufflehead.
