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OL' COOT'S - ID PHOTOS
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Mottled Duck - October 4-5, 2003
Ensley Bottoms, Shelby Co. TN
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Mottled Ducks are generally thought of as a coastal species with a lighter race, fulvigula found in Florida and the eastern edge of the Gulf Coast while a much darker race, maculosa is found along the coast from Louisiana, south through Texas and into northern Mexico. In recent times these birds have been found through the central part of the US as far north as North Dakota. This may be due to more birds wandering from a growing population, better optics , better coverage by more birders and better ID information.
Many years back, some were introduced into southern Arkansas but these birds quickly disappeared. Starting about 1995, they have been consistently found in that state as far north as Bald Knob NWR. Steve McConnell and I found 7, male and female, in Oakwood NWR in southeast Arkansas during the fall of 1995.
I have been urging others to give special attention to out of date, dark ducks because I thought this bird would eventually show up in Tennessee. I have tried to trace reports of this species being shot by hunters here in West TN but have never been able to find any evidence to support this but believe that most are just past over as Black Ducks. Due to hunting and crippled ducks I have looked at many Black Ducks in the summer in Tennessee until this duck popped up.
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These photos of a male Mottled Duck were taken in the late afternoon, under partially overcast skies and fading light. They were taken with a Sony FD-91 through a Zeiss 85 MM scope, 30 wide angled lens at a distance of 100 yards or better. They have been lightened and enlarged. Sorry about the grainy look but I think the diagnostic details are well represented. Other photos were taken on the following day in better light but at even a greater distance.
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Note the yellow bill with a dark mark at the base, extensive buff feather edgings with internal markings, clear buff cheeks, chin and throat, the dark on top of the head is restricted to just the crown
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On the above photos you can see the internal markings on the feathers especially at the shoulder in the left photo. The bird was pretty dark and I believe of the race maculosa. The birds I see on the Alabama coast every year appear to be lighter than this bird. At a distance this race can give the appearance of being as dark as a Black Duck but their feather edgings are darker and thin with no internal marks. The lower photo shows the duck preening and was the last shot of the day, taken in very low light but you can barely see the white stripe at the bottom of the speculum.
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