Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Mexican Duck
Scientific name:	Anas diazi
Date:	9/13/18
Time:	5:43 pm
Length of time observed:	1hr
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Big Cottonwood Park
County:	Salt Lake
Latilong:	(40.669232, -111.846859)
Elevation:	4327'
Distance to bird:	10 feet
Optical equipment:	Pentax ED 8x 43 binos, Canon 60D dslr with 100-400 IS lens
Weather:	Sunny
Light Conditions:	Perfect
Description: Size of bird:	Large duck
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Round, elongated body
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Brownish overall
(Description:) Bill Type:	Flattened with rounded tip
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Brownish overall with grayish brown head with darker eyestripe. Dull yellowish bill with no black saddle, narrow rear white edge on speculum, bright orange legs plus darkish brown tail and dark brown undertail coverts. The tail also didn't have any curled feathers which would indicate hybridization with Mallard. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	N/A
Behavior:	Hanging out with the local ducks. Fed on the food my son and I were tossing out. Later rested on some cattails and preened.
Habitat:	Freshwater pond with plentiful cattails.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Mallard- Juveniles, females and eclipse plumage males can show similar plumages, but will have whitish tails, pale undertail coverts and bold white rear edge to the speculum. They also won't be as uniformly patterned as this bird and often show a contrasting warmer brown color on the breast. Legs are generally a duller orange color as well. Mottled Duck- Bill would be brighter yellow with a black spot on the gape, paler crown color and very narrow white bars edging the speculum. American Black Duck- Would be darker overall with greenish yellow bill and no white bordering the speculum. Mexican Duck x Mallard hybrid- this bird doesn't show any Mallard traits with no white on the tail or undertail coverts, no green on the head and no curl to the tail feathers.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Species: Have seen this species about a dozen times down in southern Arizona. I have seen hybrids in Utah before but this was the first pure bird I have seen. Have seen American Black Ducks hundreds of times back east. Have seen dozens of Mottled Ducks in Texas.
References consulted:	Sibley 2nd edition.
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	Kenny Frisch
Observer's address:	4609 S Wallace Ln Holladay, UT 84117
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Many other birders the next 4 days.
Date prepared:	3/20/19
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments: