"Mountain Ducks" eh?

[gemfyre]

I'm looking through a mail order catalogue. Some of the stuff is genuinely nifty, but most of it is just stuff to collect dust.

One thing is "Bring your pond to life! Amazingly realistic Australian Mountain Ducks!"

"You'll be impressed by how accurately the artists have reproduced the striking plumage of both male and female birds."

Now, on my first glance I figured these ducks were meant to be Mallards. Because 1. They look kinda like Mallards and 2. Mallards are the standard "duck" to most people. Really, I'm wondering if "the artists" have ever actually seen an Australian Mountain Duck (commonly called an Australian Shelduck these days).


Here are the fake Shelducks. I imagine that's meant to be the female behind and the male in front.


Here is a pair of actual, live Shelducks. Common on large lakes around Perth. Male at back, female at front.

Now, for the non-birders I'll go over how "accurate" the plastic pond ducks are for you.

Male

- Real Shelduck has a black bill.
- Fake Shelduck has a yellow bill.
- Real Shelduck has a black head.
- Fake Shelduck has a black head.
- Real Shelduck has a white collar.
- Fake Shelduck has a white collar.
- Real Shelduck has a chestnut neck/breast.
- Fake Shelduck has a chestnut neck/breast.
- Real Shelduck has black or dark feathers around the back and chest area.
- Fake Shelduck has pale grey feathers underneath and brownish feathers on the back.

Female

- Real Shelduck has a black head with white around eyes and base of bill.
- Fake Shelduck has a black head with a white patch under the throat and across the cheeks to the ears.
- Real Shelduck has a brownish chestnut neck/breast.
- Fake Shelduck has a dark neck and white breast.
- Real Shelduck has mainly black/dark feathers around the body.
- Fake Shelduck has pale tawny feathers around the body.

Mmm yes, accurate indeed.