I have two blackies roasting in the oven as I type this, they are very similar in size and appearance to a female mallard. One of our most common waterfowl is a whistle-duck, however they are tenacious to pluck and many hunters skin or breast-fillet them.

Hal, its a pity your advice has come a day too late for me (our Northern Territory waterfowl season ended at sunset yesterday), but I will definitely try your cleaning method on a few whistlers come September!

Marrakai
http://www.hotkey.net.au/~orrs/Marrakai