Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Mexican Duck
Scientific name:	Anas diazi
Date:	05/30/2024
Time:	4:05pm
Length of time observed:	15 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	Adult
Sex:	Male
Location:	Lake Powell - Stateline Boat Ramp
County:	Kane
Latilong:	Approximately 37.003527,-111.494172
Elevation:	~3500 feet
Distance to bird:	5 feet at the closest (swam right up to our boat)
Optical equipment:	Vortex Razor 10×42 binoculars
Weather:	Sunny, calm, ~90° F
Light Conditions:	Sunny, bright
Description: Size of bird:	Mallard sized
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Duck
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Dark Brown
(Description:) Bill Type:	Spatulate
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	Bird was approximately the same size as associating male Mallard (A. platyrhynchos). Much darker brown than either a female Mallard or Male Mallard in eclipse plumage. Head and neck was lighter brown with a darker brown cap showing no hits of green (as would be expected in a hybrid). Tail was also straight and brown (hybrids would typically show curl and white tones to some extent). Bill was a dull yellow, similar to that of a male Mallard but not as bright. Extent of white on speculum not noted as bird swam and never opened its wing while I viewed it (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	N/A
Behavior:	Very gregarious. Seemed to have figured out that by hanging out near boats, people would feed it
Habitat:	Shallow water by Stateline Dock on Lake Powell
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Mallard - no curl or white tones to the tail, no green in the head/crown, darker brown feathers on body, duller yellow bill. No indication of hybridization noted as well.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	Mexican Ducks have an interesting northward extention of range that pokes into my portion of Navajo County. In part to all my reports of them in my county, I was able to not only get Mexican Duck taken off the rare bird alert for Navajo County AZ, but I was also able to document breeding records of this species in the county.
References consulted:	N/A
Description from:	Notes made later From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	John Wilson
Observer's address:	2638 Bourdon Ranch Road, Taylor AZ 85939
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	N/A
Date prepared:	06/04/2024
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	Surprised to see that not only is this a first county record for Kane County, but it's also a review species for Utah. Within Coconino County AZ, just to the south I've seen several MEDU and they're annual in small numbers. Also as mentioned MEDU breeds and is a year round resident in Navajo County, to the east of Coconino County. I've also had records as far north as SW CO in previous years.