Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: orchidpoet on January 03, 2020, 11:14:57 AM

Title: What are they?
Post by: orchidpoet on January 03, 2020, 11:14:57 AM
They were flying along Lake Ontario in December. They don't look like Canada geese, do they?

What are they? My guess is Brant. Do Brant geese come to Toronto?

Thanks!
Title: Re: What are they?
Post by: Shortsighted on January 03, 2020, 02:40:01 PM
Royal Canadian Scaup
Deep diving squadron
on a training mission out of Lagoon Base.
Bea-u-ti-ful.
Title: Re: What are they?
Post by: orchidpoet on January 03, 2020, 09:47:22 PM
SS, thank you so much for the identification!

Are they Greater or Lesser?
Title: Re: What are they?
Post by: Paul O'Toole on January 04, 2020, 08:34:38 AM
Most likely Greater, hard to tell in flight but the Lesser are not as common as the Greater.
Title: Re: What are they?
Post by: lovemypt on January 04, 2020, 08:53:43 AM
Quote from: "orchidpoet"
They were flying along Lake Ontario in December. They don't look like Canada geese, do they?

What are they? My guess is Brant. Do Brant geese come to Toronto?

Thanks!


Yes, Brants do pass thru GTA area but in small numbers and usually more in Fall,  best spots Hamilton/ Burlington area or out at Spit/ Whitby area

You should always check out big flocks of Canada's, as sometimes odd one will get mixed in

I agree with Paul, these are most likely Greater if in Toronto
Title: Re: What are they?
Post by: thouc on January 04, 2020, 12:37:42 PM
The best way to separate Greater and Lesser Scaup in flight is the amount of white on the upper wing (unfortunately not visible in this photo). Lesser has only white on the inner part, while the white go out almost to the tip for Greater.

/Thomas
Title: Re: What are they?
Post by: Shortsighted on January 04, 2020, 05:00:12 PM
I concur. They are almost certainly Greater.
As per your photo, the Lesser Scaup don't fly as fast and their wings beat more slowly.
I've never see a large group of Lesser Scaup.
Title: Re: What are they?
Post by: orchidpoet on January 05, 2020, 01:28:42 PM
Paul, lovemypt, Thomas and thouc, thank you very much for your insights!

SS, many thanks again!