Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

Subject: Redhead (Aythya americana) female
Place: Tempe, AZ, USA
Date: December 2002
Equipment: Nikon N90S, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (= 600/5.6), tripod
Film: Fuji Sensia 100
Exposure: Aperture priority matrix metered
Scan: Minolta Dimage, very minor cropping for web presentation

Commentary: This image illustrates how much the Aythya ducks resemble each other. I'd been calling this bird another Ring-necked Duck, but upon really looking at the image I see three features of note:

• head shape is rounded; not squarish or pointed as Ring-necked Duck
• the lack of a strong white ring separating the black bill tip from the blue
• the gray primary feathers visible on the folded wing