Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: denis on December 26, 2009, 10:25:01 AM

Title: female scaup
Post by: denis on December 26, 2009, 10:25:01 AM

this is one from humber west.i,m not sure if it,s a female lesser scaup,or greater scaup.i,m leaning towards ,female lesser scaup.can anyone tell me for sure?
thanks in advance.
denis
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4215390867_d5ef2e8250_o.jpg)

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Post by: ravynne40 on December 26, 2009, 01:57:07 PM

looks like a female greater scaup according to whatbird.com
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1096/_ ... Scaup.aspx (http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/1096/_/Greater_Scaup.aspx)
Irene :)

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Post by: denis on December 26, 2009, 02:43:57 PM

could be,but both the female lesser,and greater scaup,have the white patch,at the base of the bill,if that,s what you,re going with.
denis

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Post by: ravynne40 on December 26, 2009, 03:08:45 PM

you are right, its hard to tell, maybe one of the more experienced birders can tell?
even so, its a nice shot :)

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Post by: amblesidebirder on December 26, 2009, 09:29:25 PM

Happy Holidays Denis,

You are right to lean towards a female Lesser Scaup. That's exactly what she is. Nice capture!

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Post by: thouc on December 27, 2009, 12:37:07 PM

I'm leaning towards Greater Scaup as the head appears large and rounded.

Check this page for tips on how to identify the Scaups: http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos/scaup.htm (http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos/scaup.htm)

/Thomas

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Post by: amblesidebirder on December 27, 2009, 02:22:32 PM

This bird is too white on the lower body feathers and also doesn't not have a very faded washed out white ear patch. The eye is also not right for a Great Scaup.

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Post by: denis on December 27, 2009, 09:04:45 PM

thanks les!
happy holidays to you also.
denis

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Post by: thouc on December 28, 2009, 10:25:53 AM

Hi again,
sorry for being stubborn, but after more research I still believe it's a Greater Scaup. According to the identification guides I have seen the most reliable field mark for swimming birds is the shape and relative size of the head and bill.

Greater Scaup has a rounded head with the highest point in front of the middle of the head. It has also a relatively larger head and a larger bill with a larger black tip compared to the Lesser Scaup.

Lesser Scaup has a relatively smaller head with the peak of the head behind the middle of the head (in normal, relaxed state, so 100 percent conclusive). The black tip of the bill is narrow and small.

A bold white ear patch would indicate Greater Scaup (specially visible in spring and summer), while a bird without it could be either species.

The plumage seems to vary greatly between different individuals.

As your bird clearly has a big, rounded head with the top towards the front and large bill with extended black tip I would say that it is a Greater Scaup.

Here are some pictures as examples:
http://www.pbase.com/slisch/image/82148724 (http://www.pbase.com/slisch/image/82148724) has similar body and bill pattern (with a wide black tip) as the bird in your picture.

The female Greater Scaup at http://www.avianweb.com/scaup.html (http://www.avianweb.com/scaup.html) clearly doesn't have any white ear patch

Note that the female Lesser Scaup at http://galleries.xenogere.com/gallery/5 ... JbJL7-A-LB (http://galleries.xenogere.com/gallery/5492912_KK3H3#502864762_JbJL7-A-LB) has a smaller head with the peak behind the middle of the head and only has a narrow black tip of the bill.

Note also picture J in my link above http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos/scaup.htm (http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos/scaup.htm) that the only visible difference between the Greater and Lesser Scaup females is the size and shape of the head.

Regards,
 Thomas

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Post by: denis on December 28, 2009, 12:47:01 PM

thanks thomas,for all your work,and research,on this matter.
either way,i think it,s a beautiful duck.
denis

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Post by: ravynne40 on December 28, 2009, 02:39:23 PM

so now its a duck? LOL...what kind of duck tho *laughing*