Unknown Waterfowl at Hart Park

[MonsieurBae]

These images are stills taken from a video I recorded this morning, at Hart Park in Bakersfield CA. Apologies for low quality. Am new to bird identifying, just curious about what I saw.
Similar in look to Wood ducks or Harlequin ducks, however I distinctly recall seeing a brown belly, separated by a horizontal white line from black/dark-colored back and head. There was also some red on the face. About the same size as the mallards they were swimming with.

[MichaelLong]

wood duck

[Birding Boy]

Welcome to Whatbird! 
I agree, these look Like male Wood Ducks.

[MonsieurBae]

Just now, Birding Boy said:

Welcome to Whatbird! 
I agree, these look Like male Wood Ducks.

Thank you!! 

Interesting! I found it hard to believe because they look different than what I can find on Google haha, I didn’t realize there could be so much variation! 

[MonsieurBae]

4 minutes ago, MichaelLong said:

wood duck

Thank you, friend!

[Charlie Spencer]

14 hours ago, MonsieurBae said:

Thank you!! 

Interesting! I found it hard to believe because they look different than what I can find on Google haha, I didn’t realize there could be so much variation! 

Welcome!

Obviously I don't know what you saw on Google, but female Wood Ducks look different from males, and males during the breeding season look different from males outside the breeding season.  Google may have returned images of females, non-breeding males, or immatures.  But while the colors may differ, the birds' shape are the same.  That crested head is distinctive.

Instead of using Google to search for bird images, try Macaulay Library instead.  Google returns results based on how people identify their photos, and sometimes they're misidentified.  Macaulay is moderated and community reviewed.  Misidentifications still happen but at a much lower rate than on the web in general.

https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/

[Kevin]

@Charlie Spencer I think you gave the wrong link. https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=wooduc&q=Wood Duck - Aix sponsa

[Charlie Spencer]

39 minutes ago, Kevin said:

@Charlie Spencer I think you gave the wrong link. https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=wooduc&q=Wood Duck - Aix sponsa

I was offering a link to the site itself, not specifically to Woodies.

[MonsieurBae]

On 11/11/2020 at 6:11 AM, Charlie Spencer said:

Welcome!

Obviously I don't know what you saw on Google, but female Wood Ducks look different from males, and males during the breeding season look different from males outside the breeding season.  Google may have returned images of females, non-breeding males, or immatures.  But while the colors may differ, the birds' shape are the same.  That crested head is distinctive.

Instead of using Google to search for bird images, try Macaulay Library instead.  Google returns results based on how people identify their photos, and sometimes they're misidentified.  Macaulay is moderated and community reviewed.  Misidentifications still happen but at a much lower rate than on the web in general.

https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/

I see, thank you so much for the info! I’ll make sure to use that source instead. In the mean time, I plan on stopping by to see these woodies every time I go to the park. ?