?Mottled Duck (female)

[floraphile]

14 Nov 2020 Baldwin co AL

 

[Tony Leukering]

Blue-winged Teal -- pale area between bill and eye; also not very dark

[floraphile]

Hi, @Tony Leukering. I was going by the dark patch at the gape.  Overreading?

[Tony Leukering]

Yup, as that long strip of black is on the bill, not the face; the same sort of strip of black visible on the female MODU in this photo. Your bird's bill is dark -- Mottled female has yellow or orange bill with or without a black saddle. MODU also has a buffy head, not a gray one, and all of the body plumage has a black aspect to it.

[floraphile]

So now I'm reading about Blue-Winged Teals--what rules out Cinnamon Teal?  Or is this a typo?  It is talking about the white spot behind the bill, but both photos seem to show that. 

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-winged_Teal/species-compare/174520431

Edited November 15, 2020 by floraphile
missing info

[Aaron]

Well, the easiest way in this case is that a Cinnamon teals range does not include Alabama 

[floraphile]

4 minutes ago, Aaron said:

Well, the easiest way in this case is that a Cinnamon teals range does not include Alabama 

My inexperience is showing...