I've been meaning to ask you a bird ID question. In the past two weeks I've been seeing these very small waterfowl on Jamaica pond. They are black, about half the size of an adult male Mallard duck, their beaks are light colored (white or yellow, I can't tell), and they dive. I believe that they are ducks given the shortness of their necks. They hang out at the southern part of the pond, and they seem comfortable swimming about with the mallards, geese, and swans. I've not been able to get a close enough look at them to see any other distinguishing features, mostly because my eyesight isn't what it used to be and the sunlight makes them a bit backlit.
They are definitely not buffleheads, though there are a few of those at the pond these days, too. Any guesses?
Sounds like you're talking about coots. They are duck-like in their habits and associations, but unrelated to ducks (they're in the group that includes cranes).
Yes! That must be it. Their beaks didn't look like duck beaks, but I would not have placed them in the same family as cranes given their size and their swimming about rather like ducks. But their swimming is not as smooth as ducks, so seeing the pictures of their feet in your photos explains that. Thank you!
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2009-11-21 09:43 am (UTC)They are definitely not buffleheads, though there are a few of those at the pond these days, too. Any guesses?
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Date: 2009-11-21 12:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-21 12:44 pm (UTC)