Re - My earlier question about duck identification

[SpiderPig]

I've now found

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=2877 6

and

http://users.utu.fi/hlehto/photo/color/copenha gen.shtml

Which confirm that the birds I saw were mellanistic Mallards. Thanks for peoples answers.

[wildwood]

Err... melanistic is black.

A mallard with a white chest is a pied or a hybrid

[SpiderPig]

Thats why I was asking the question - because I'm not an ornithologist ! I originally didn't know what species they were.

I thought people who had been grateful enough to answer my previous question may want to see I'd found some pictures.

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Question461169.html

The birdwatchers on the first link I posted seemed to think Melanistic was an appropriate description.

[Cetti]

Melanism is the correct word SpiderPig, so you are right. It being the opposite of Albinism.
All these different colours tend to wind birdy people up no end, but don't take it too personally - although it is a very passionate subject!

As a PS. over the years I've taken many a photo of 'mystery' birds only to find out they are all Mallards in disguise. They are incredibly promiscuous and will mate with just about anything - hence the variety!

[SpiderPig]

Thanks for that Cetti.

In defence of wildwood, I didn't give a link to my original question that mentioned it was a sooty brown bird that I was trying to identify, and there were many different pictures on that link.