Need New bird ID Help

[smead]

Saw an interesting pair of water birds on the Olentangy at the West 3rd Avenue bridge at about 5am.

Mallard sized and shaped, dark colored body, duck-like feet, bright white patch on front of breast...but a pointed yellow bill that wasn't really duck-like at all. They were paddling about like ducks do.

I looked through some bird guides and nothing matches...any ideas??

[alberts11]

Hey smead, check out American coot pictures and see if that is your bird. The description you give sounds about right.

[smead]

Thanks!

I checked out the coot...it's beak is not long and pointed enough and it lacks the white patch on the breast.

[smead]

They were there again this morning...saw them in some better light provided by the bridge lighting.

They are indeed ducks.

All black with the white breast.

If there was only one, I'd wonder if it weren't a wild/domestic duck mix...but both have the same coloration.

Tried to take pictures...flash wasn't enough to illuminate at the distance I was from them.

Don't have to work tonight...perhaps I can get some pictures during the day a bit closer.

[alberts11]

I've seen similar ducks and always assumed they were a wild/domestic hybrid of some kind. Perhaps they are siblings? I don't know enough about ducks to be of much help, but I'm interested to see what we can figure out.