Scaup or Shoveller?

[ravynne40]

I can't figure this one out, he looks like a scaup (and was with a flock of Greater Scaups) but he also looks a little like a Northern shoveller (without the white breast)
can someone help me id him properly my book isn't helping me at all!




thanks
Irene

[MEGHAN]

I can't tell you what he is.
But I just wanted to say he's beautifull. Very nice photo.
Meghan

[Kin Lau]

Definitely not a Shoveller. It looks like an immature male Scaup.

[Iain]

Definitely a Scaup, as for whether its a Greater or Lesser is another question as they're very difficult to distinguish and both species come through Southern Ontario in the winter.  Shoveler's bills are very very large and difficult to miss.  The colouration on this duck is also wrong for Shoveler (too dark overall - including bill - to be a female shoveler and lacking the deep rusty sides, white breast and green head of a male).

Iain

[ravynne40]

Thanks, I wasn't sure because the other scaups on the lake had this white around their bills.

[ravynne40]

could this bird be a golden eye? usually scaups have some white on their bellies..my friends and i are still trying to figure it out
(still confused)
Irene

[Kin Lau]

That's what a Juvi or non-breeding male scaup looks like, no white at the base of the bill. It does take them a little while to get into their breeding black & white plumage.

[thouc]

I think it's a Greater Scaup based on the shape of the head (rounded, not pointed).

/Thomas

[ravynne40]

ok thanks Kin Lau and Thomas and everyone else!