This Mallard had a dark wash over its entire body. It did not show any feathering indicating a hybrid with Black Duck.

The Black/Mallard hybrids have become regular here in west Tennessee and foretell the decline of the Black Duck, due to aggressive and over powering numbers of Mallards in the Black Duck's breeding territories.

In the field, the dusky wash on this bird was very evident even on the green head. In direct comparison to the other light bodied Mallard drakes, the bird stood out like a sore thumb.