No, this is not a duck. It’s an American Coot. From Wikipedia:
Though commonly mistaken for ducks, American coots are only distantly related to ducks, belonging to a separate order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step in order to facilitate walking on dry land.[2] Coots live near water, typically inhabiting wetlands and open water bodies in North America.
I do not recall every photographing one of these before. We saw this one while travleing in Utah earlier this month. Yes, I thought it was a duck!
~ Rick
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