A new state bird! Not a super-rarity, but not one you see in South Dakota much. It’s always nice to have a fellow birder in the area find a rarity, report it online, and have it be within 10 miles of your home! It’s even nicer when you make the short drive and the bird is still in the same place.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to easily tell it apart from all the mallards in the area, but it stood out from the moment I got there. Darker, more evenly colored plumage, and a bill that really distinguishes it from the female Mallards. One reason to love birding…I sure wasn’t expecting a new state bird when I woke up this morning!
American Black Duck, the first I’ve seen in South Dakota.
Comparison with a female Mallard. Pretty obvious when you see them side-by-side, with the darker, more evenly colored plumage, and that distinctive yellowish bill.