strange birds

[chesters1]

does anybody recognise these birds ( prob grebes) or what there for .they are not a wall decoration ( hints of flying ducks x 3)as they are painted both sides and they are not a bird copy as they are only 1 1/2 " thick .they are well over a foot long ,does anyone know? is the answer staring me in the face.

[Vagabond]

Looks like the male American (Carolina) wood duck, ( Aix sponsa) but the colouring is not quite like the real thing.

 

Probably used as decoys Come on Newt - is that right ?

 

[ 17 February 2002, 04:29 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

[chesters1]

i dont think there decoys because they float on their sides (not a good idea when persuading wildfowl to land ) i suppose they could be used on land ,but even then a bit wobberly.

[Vagabond]

Are they meant to be weighted? and/or anchored? - after all, a stick float lies on its side unless shotted

 

I've just looked at my N American Birds handbook, and the size is about right (18.5" length for the real thing) and they are not a bad representation either apart from the colour- probably the paint has discoloured a bit with age.

[chesters1]

no marks of anykind on the base ,just plain unpainted wood ,paid an arm and a leg for them at a car boot sale (ok it was £2) i will use them as ornaments on my computer/reel display desk

[fisherking]

Mandarin ducks.

 

John.

[teepee]

they look like reel computer diplay desk ducks to me, cheep ones at that!

[chesters1]

display ducks they are then

[Cranfield]

I agree with fisherking, they are mandarin ducks.

Cheap wooden ornaments worth about.....£2.00:D

[Newt]

Could be either woodys or mandarins. Take a look at the pics below. The woody one is absolutely a good likeness. Not so sure about the mandarin since we don't have them around here - or if we do, I've mistaken them for wood ducks.

 

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Wood Duck Drake (male)

 

 

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Wood Duck Pair

 

 

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Mandarin Drake