What Bird Is That Forum

Last week Lubbock Texas.

Head and bill colors are wrong for male or female Mallard.

To me, the question is Mottled or Mexican. I don't know where the Mexican's range ends. If range rules it out, I'm on Team Mottled.

Charlie Spencer wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 6:49 pm Head and bill colors are wrong for male or female Mallard.

To me, the question is Mottled or Mexican. I don't know where the Mexican's range ends. If range rules it out, I'm on Team Mottled.

Both mottled and Mexican are well out of regular range, but both are seen in this area every few years. Lubbock has a decently robust birding community and usually has several at least locally rare birds hanging out. What struck me as strange was as far as I am aware no one had already found this bird.

Mottled. Speculum is lacking the white border of MEDU.

Aidan B wrote: Fri May 15, 2026 6:58 am Mottled. Speculum is lacking the white border of MEDU.

Thanks. I missed it in the first shot.

Thanks! Glad it is a Mottled that's what I had reported it as.

Kevin wrote: Fri May 15, 2026 12:32 pm Thanks! Glad it is a Mottled that's what I had reported it as.

I'm a bit jealous.

Just for giggles, crop the Mallard out of the first shot, upload the duck in question to the eBird checklist, and see if it accepts it as 'Mottled'.

Aidan B wrote: Fri May 15, 2026 6:58 am Mottled. Speculum is lacking the white border of MEDU.

Plus the black spot at gape and the bill color. Did it get confirmed?

Hooded Robin wrote: Sat May 16, 2026 10:47 am

Aidan B wrote: Fri May 15, 2026 6:58 am Mottled. Speculum is lacking the white border of MEDU.

Plus the black spot at gape and the bill color. Did it get confirmed?

Not yet, I'm sure the reviewer hasn't gotten to it yet