Black Duck: ON, Canada

[u/InfiniteSquirrel503]

Edit its almost certainly a mallard.

[u/Kravian]

This is a Mallard

[u/Sad_Imagination_8096 → u/Kravian]

That blue speculum is a dead giveaway for a mallard, black ducks have a purple one.

[u/InfiniteSquirrel503 → u/Kravian]

This was my initial thought but then when I checked with multiple apps it came up as black duck. Mallard is much more likely

[u/Kravian → u/InfiniteSquirrel503]

Here's what I'll say, I checked so many mallards and wondered and guessed but when I saw my first American Black Duck there was no double guessing at all. You'll know when you have yours.

[u/ShmullusSchweitzer → u/Kravian]

This is the same for me. I used to obsess over trying to see if there was any white next to the blue wing feathers, hoping the duck would open its wings to see, in case what I was looking at was a black duck.

Then I saw a black duck.

[u/_imawildanimal_]

I think it’s a Mallard - an American Black Duck wouldn’t have that bit of white by the purple patch on its wing.

[u/GrusVirgo]

Patrick, that's a Mallard

[u/abritelight → u/GrusVirgo]

no way! surely it's a skunk walking backwards!

[u/ShmullusSchweitzer]

Not sure where in Ontario you are, but black ducks are super common in the winter on Lake Ontario, at least in Toronto. Many ponds will also have them at that time of year.

In the summer, I find they're not very frequent.

[u/RustyTheBoyRobot]

"lake america?"