Outdoor Ontario
Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: BetCrooks on May 01, 2016, 01:42:46 PM
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I was taking record shots of red-breasted mergansers to come up with an estimate of how many were on the lake (Ontario, Mississauga) yesterday. This profile, though, isn't merganser. I'm thinking maybe Scoter species, but I really don't have any idea. It dove and isn't in the next frame. The profile doesn't look Loon to me although I'm not an expert on those either.
Any opinions? Should I report it as a Scoter of some kind? Or should I just leave it unlisted?
[attachment=0:24fsctla]WaterbirdSilhouette.jpg[/attachment:24fsctla]
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The head and bill look like a Canvasback.
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I think the shape of the bill is too short and heavy for Canvasback, and the profile of the bill too smooth for any Scoter. I think it could be a female Common Goldeneye.
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I think it is a scoter, most likely surf scoter. But image is too blurry to be certain, I would never report something like this.
I was thinking about goldeneye, but to me the bill is too large and the profile of top of bill and head too straight for that.
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Thanks for the great opinions to consider!
Given that it is far from conclusive, I'll just leave it unlisted on eBird. In the meantime, I'm reviewing each of the suggestions and trying to improve my understanding. Thanks again!
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Never thought of a scoter, good eyes folks.
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Looks like a scoter to me as well.
If you don't feel positive about the ID you could report it on eBird as duck sp. and put possibly scoter in the comments.
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I think I'll agree with Kris that it's a Common Goldeneye. The dark head and lighter coloured breast fits a Goldeneye, but not the Scoter species.
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Definitely a goldeneye on plumage, you can see the brown head, grey body and paler front (scoters are all dark), pale eye. The shape is bit odd because it is actively diving but if you spend enough time with them, this shape is very distinctive for an actively diving goldeneye.