All you bird experts out there, I need your help. Can you identify this bird? I assume it is a duck, but I ran this through Merlin North American and Europe and nothing seemed to be an absolute match. I am far from an expert.
It appears to have red eyes and an orange beak. The colour on top of its head is a darker brown. I do not know if this is a juvenile or an adult. I saw this in one of the parks in London. That of course does not mean necessarily that it is native to Europe. What are your thoughts? Can anyone identify this mystery bird? Or could this even be a hybrid cross between two birds?
Sharon's Iconic Travel Photography Blog 
Beautiful Bird.
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It is! Just wish I knew what it was. I almost wonder if it is a hybrid.
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It does looks like female Red-crested Pochard but the beak colour is not same
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That’s the closet I’ve seen but not an exact match. It makes me wonder if it’s a hybrid. I did contact Merlin, which is tied into Cornell University. However I have contacted them before about birds I can’t name and local birders who are more knowledgeable think may be a hybrid and they never responded, so I’m not too hopeful here.
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Yes, I thought so it looks like that but not quite and you are probably right of this being hybrid. Thanks
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I know some birds have variations, but I’m not seeing a lot of photos showing much in the way of variations.
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I am not at all expert, but I believe it is a young female of Red-crested pochard.
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I thought it might be, but it’s not exact. It may be the closest.
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Get in touch with an ornithologist at a museum or university. Perhaps someone could tell you for sure.
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I messaged Merlin app. They are connected to Cornell Uni. I’ve never had luck with them responding. A few years ago I contacted them with photos attached with a bird that was most like a cross between two types of geese and heard nothing.
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That’s terrible. I’m so sorry. I thought they would be so happy to help. That’s really too bad.
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I’m guessing they get more questions than they can answer.
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Unfortunately, not up on my European birds so unable to provide an assist on the ID. It is a lovely duck though.
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Definitely. It is closest though to the ones some are mentioning.
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Either that or they just don’t answer people. Either way, it’s too bad.
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Red Crested Pochard.
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Hi Sharon.
As others have already said this a Red-crested Pochard, a juvenile. Not native to the UK, they are a European duck but are popular in collections and escapes have bred in certain areas. Also possible some records are true wild birds from the continent.
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Thank you! It did look like it could be with variation, which could be because it is a juvenile. They do not always show enough with photos on birding sites on variations of what a juvenile can look like.
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