Martin. You and Dave need to check all Daves photos as this is a LESSER SCAUP unless theres something 'odd'with these 3 you've posted. Note;- head shape - obvious bump to rear with indentation below, broad black markings to upperparts becoming denser to rear end, size - looks as Tufted in photo. It even seems to have a blue tint to its head. Im less sure of its age - is it the browny marks on the back that age it as a first-summer? Otherwise it looks very close to being a adult.
Thanks Graham I had already convinced myself about 95% sure that it was a Lesser Scaup. Yes it is the brown on the back that led me to believe it was an immature. However reading up further I agree that it is probably be an adult. Third time lucky - from hybrid to Greater Scaup to Lesser Scaup. But, I think we are there now.
Aging of Lesser Scaup can be difficult, as advanced 1st Summer birds can be virtually identical to adults so cannot be aged safely. Some, however, do retain browner juvenile feathers. On the middle photo posted this morning, the primaries, tail, and some upper tail coverts look brownish tinged. If this is a true representation of colour, it would indicate it's a 1st Summer male. The eyes and bill on a 1st Summer can look very like an adult.
3 comments:
Martin. You and Dave need to check all Daves photos as this is a LESSER SCAUP unless theres something 'odd'with these 3 you've posted. Note;- head shape - obvious bump to rear with indentation below, broad black markings to upperparts becoming denser to rear end, size - looks as Tufted in photo. It even seems to have a blue tint to its head.
Im less sure of its age - is it the browny marks on the back that age it as a first-summer? Otherwise it looks very close to being a adult.
Thanks Graham I had already convinced myself about 95% sure that it was a Lesser Scaup. Yes it is the brown on the back that led me to believe it was an immature. However reading up further I agree that it is probably be an adult.
Third time lucky - from hybrid to Greater Scaup to Lesser Scaup. But, I think we are there now.
From Pete Smith.
Aging of Lesser Scaup can be difficult, as advanced 1st Summer birds can be virtually identical to adults so cannot be aged safely.
Some, however, do retain browner juvenile feathers. On the middle photo posted this morning, the primaries, tail, and some upper tail coverts look brownish tinged.
If this is a true representation of colour, it would indicate it's a 1st Summer male. The eyes and bill on a 1st Summer can look very like an adult.
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