Wood Duck question

[seaneduck]

I could have sworn that when looking in on my female wood duck, when she was quacking, her bottom bill looked like it was split. It had a definite ^ shape, like it had the start of a split right down the middle. It could only be seen for the split second she had her mouth open to quack. She is so skittish I couldn't get close, and the darn thing hasn't quacked again while I've been watching, for me to get a second look.

Is this normal? There's no way i could get a picture since my camera takes such a long time to snap a picture after I push the button.

 

[KansasKid]

Best thing to do might be to catch her in the cool of the day and take a look.

 

[seaneduck]

Ok, I caught her and had my son hold her while I tried to take a picture. SOrry it's blurry, but the best I could get with my stupid camera. You can see the definite ^ shape in her lower bill. The dark in the ^ shape is her upper bill. Her tongue isn't hanging out, and it looks like this is an old injury/deformity. She eats and drinks fine. I just hope it doesn't get worse.