# Unusual Duck **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360 "2006-04-19T20:55:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/1 "2006-04-19T20:55:00Z")
A very dark duck crossed the road in front of me this morning. He had peacock like feathers on top of his head. Any ideas what he was? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/2 "2006-04-19T21:02:15Z")
You’ll have to give a better description. I don’t know what you mean by “peacock-like feathers.” The fanciest duck in North America is the [Wood Duck.](http://www.dof.virginia.gov/images/wildlife-wood-duck-photo.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/3 "2006-04-19T21:24:56Z")
He looked like he had a mohawk haircut. I presume it wasn’t a native but a fancy bird of some sort. Here’s a [crested duck](http://metzerfarms.com/wht_crest.htm) , but this guy was very dark green, appearing to be black. It was light, but the sun wasn’t over the horizon yet. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/4 "2006-04-19T21:46:51Z")
Perhaps a [hooded merganser](http://www.fnal.gov/ecology/wildlife/specs/Hooded_Merganser.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/5 "2006-04-19T22:00:25Z")
[Female Hooded Merganser](http://www.fnal.gov/ecology/wildlife/pics/Hooded_Merganser.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/6 "2006-04-19T22:14:44Z")
It’s probably not one, but check out the [Mandarin Duck](http://www.fssbirding.org.uk/Images/mandarin02.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/7 "2006-04-20T00:25:31Z")
Could very well be the Merganser. The crest seemed to stand out from the head, like a peacock or that helmet Marvin Martin wears, but I was trying not to hit him rather than ID him. 🙂 I didn’t see him (or her) on the way home. Maybe I’ll see her again in the morning. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/8 "2006-04-20T02:28:16Z")
One question remains, though: why did the duck cross the road? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/9 "2006-04-20T02:34:08Z")
> [@Peak Banana](#): > > One question remains, though: why did the duck cross the road? The O’possum told him is was safe. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/10 "2006-04-20T02:46:48Z")
The male red-breasted merganser has a dark green head, but I wouldn’t [describe](http://www.assateague.com/data-bird/merganser-red-breasted.jpg) the bird as “black” overall. Did you note the beak? Mergansers don’t have the flat, wide beak of your average duck; it’s narrower, more like an attenuated gull’s beak. Could be an odd duck; we had melanistic mallard in a local lagoon for a couple years: black as a black leopard, with overlays of iridescence on the head and wings. I suppose you might have seen a melanistic merganser, but the chances of that are mighty slim. Still, not impossible. Occam’s razor suggests you keep looking though. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/11 "2006-04-20T02:59:00Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Did you note the beak? No, by the time I quit breaking he was safely across the road to the left and I was sort of looking over his shoulder. Er, wing. The guy on the right keeps chickens, so I hope he lives there and survived his road trip for me to see him again. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/12 "2006-04-20T02:59:05Z")
> [@Peak Banana](#): > > One question remains, though: why did the duck cross the road? And yet another question: Unusual Duck would be a great band name, wouldn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/13 "2006-04-20T03:00:10Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > No, by the time I quit breaking Braking. Time to go to bed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/14 "2006-04-20T03:07:02Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#): > > And yet another question: Unusual Duck would be a great band name, wouldn’t it? [Public Service Announcement]Please note that the Burger King is not mentioned in, and is indeed banned from, this thread. [/Public Service Announcement] ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/15 "2006-04-20T03:26:31Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > He looked like he had a mohawk haircut…appearing to be black. like [this](http://users.forthnet.gr/ath/c64/DuffyPics/smug_daffy_duck.jpg) ? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/16 "2006-04-20T03:37:15Z")
> [@Peak Banana](#): > > One question remains, though: why did the duck cross the road? He heard an echo. And _no one knows why._ ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/17 "2006-04-20T04:13:53Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Could very well be the Merganser. The crest seemed to stand out from the head, like a peacock or that helmet Marvin Martin wears, The crest can be raised even more than it is in the pictures **jayjay** and I linked to. [Here’s](http://www.ctwaterfowl.org/images/hooded_merganser_hen_web.jpg) another female Hooded Merganser with the crest raised even more. The Hooded Merganser is the native species with the largest crest. Other crested duck species include the Wood Duck, the Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, and the rare Tufted Duck. But none of these other species have crests shaped like the one you describe. > [@lissener](#): > > The male red-breasted merganser has a dark green head, but I wouldn’t describe the bird as “black” overall. Although it’s crested, the Red-breasted Merganser has a ragged, rather than rounded crest. It’s also more typically found on seacoasts in the US. The Hooded Merganser is a freshwater species. > [@lissener](#): > > I suppose you might have seen a melanistic merganser, but the chances of that are mighty slim. Still, not impossible. Occam’s razor suggests you keep looking though. Although not black, a female Hooded Merganser can look quite dark (as in the pictures linked to earlier), and might even be perceived as blackish to a hurried look. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/18 "2006-04-20T14:27:53Z")
Perhaps it wasn’t a duck, but a Cormorant? They are black and can have a crested head, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/19 "2006-04-20T15:07:19Z")
Cormorants don’t walk very well and need to live somewhere with a good supply of fish, like the ocean or a big lake. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360/20 "2006-04-20T15:15:37Z")
Did it walk like a duck? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unusual-duck/353360.md?page=2)