Be My (Ding) Darling Valentine

[Bill Dix]

I know the image is poor - light was terrible - but I thought the behavior was appropriate for today. The French kiss, as practiced by Blue-winged Teal? Something I'd never seen before and thought I'd share.

[John Chardine]

Thanks for sharing Bill. Never seen this before either. The bird on the left looks like a male based on the developing facial crescent and patches of coloured feathers coming in on the head. This could have been an aggressive interaction.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks John. I admit I wondered about that facial crescent, but I convinced myself that the female does show some white at the base of the bill, and also the green feathers on the flank. I even wondered if there were a blue-winged/green-winged hybrid (which I had never heard of). The frames before and after this one looked decidedly amorous, but if you're right it might be a father-son interaction???