cobaltducks's Identifications

Back at the station HQ. Whether disturbed by the verandah lighting (likely) or feeding on insects attracted to the night light (less likely, being full night, mid winter, ie long after sunset. And I doubt this particular verandah had the lighting on for many days, even weeks, before we arrived the previous evening).

Orange legs, white alar.
......
Added a blurry picture to show better facial markings, very thin white top stripe
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Main clues for determining hybridicity in Pacific Black Ducks, from a more detailed article by cobaltducks

-PBDs have typically grey/green, dusky brown or tan legs. Hybrids can have legs bright orange like the Mallards. Some will have a duller orange. See article for subtleties.
-PBDs will have an evenly coloured slate grey or grey/green bill. A hybrid may have an orange, yellow, or green bill often with patches.
-Hybrids may also show lighter feathers and/or feathers with broad buff fringes. A pure PBD will have narrow buff fringes.
-PBD will have a dark stripe from the gape to below the eye. Hybrids may have this stripe entirely missing, a faint or wider stripe, or partial stripe that doesn’t extend the full distance
-PBD have two cream patches on their face, above and below their eye. Hybrids may have darker streaks or discolouration in these patches.
-The crown of a PBD is typically quite dark. A streaked or paler crown may suggest a hybrid, however this may also be present on juveniles.
-The iridescent patch on the hybrid's wing (speculum) may show as blue, but will depend on the light. The speculum of a hybrid may also have noticeable white strip on the rear edge.

Fuller details here:
https://ebird.org/australia/news/identifying-mallard-x-pacific-black-duck-hybrids

Orange Legs.
This individual was also much darker than appears in the photo, I think the camera white balance has automatically lightened the plumage.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Main clues for determining hybridicity in Pacific Black Ducks, from a more detailed article by cobaltducks

-PBDs have typically grey/green, dusky brown or tan legs. Hybrids can have legs bright orange like the Mallards. Some will have a duller orange. See article for subtleties.
-PBDs will have an evenly coloured slate grey or grey/green bill. A hybrid may have an orange, yellow, or green bill often with patches.
-Hybrids may also show lighter feathers and/or feathers with broad buff fringes. A pure PBD will have narrow buff fringes.
-PBD will have a dark stripe from the gape to below the eye. Hybrids may have this stripe entirely missing, a faint or wider stripe, or partial stripe that doesn’t extend the full distance
-PBD have two cream patches on their face, above and below their eye. Hybrids may have darker streaks or discolouration in these patches.
-The crown of a PBD is typically quite dark. A streaked or paler crown may suggest a hybrid, however this may also be present on juveniles.
-The iridescent patch on the hybrid's wing (speculum) may show as blue, but will depend on the light. The speculum of a hybrid may also have noticeable white strip on the rear edge.

Fuller details here:
https://ebird.org/australia/news/identifying-mallard-x-pacific-black-duck-hybrids