Duck ID

[simon624]

I'm not sure about this one. I thought that most likely it was just a Tufted Duck, but the eye colour has confused me.

[phil baber]

It is a female Tufted. Nice photo.

[Twitcheruth]

Nice image Simon!
Welcome Phil!

[phil baber]

Thanx for the welcome!

[clydebirder]

Hi Simon

Where was the image taken?

The bird has features of juvenile Scaup, the broad rounded head and bill shape are closer to Scaup than Tufted Duck (although this feature can change depending on posture), the body also looks a bit bulky for Tuftie although size is difficult to judge from a photo. Juvenile birds tend to have darker eyes than adults, it's also a feature of hybrids which can be very similar to true Scaup. I've put two images below,they are of older birds than the one in your image but if you look at the shape of the birds and also look carefuly at the enlarged view of the bills on the upper right of the image and you will see subtle differences

Cheers, John

BELOW: 1st winter female TUFTED DUCK


BELOW: 1st winter female SCAUP

[simon624]

Hi John,
the possibility of Scaup did cross my mind, but the photo was taken near me at South Norwood, nowhere near the coast. Here's a link to a google earth placemark:

http://www.birds.deansfamily.com/kmz...ood%20Park.kmz

The bird in question was also with some Tufted Ducks. It's on the right in the background in the first photo. The second photo is a higher-res close-up of the original shot.

Thanks, Simon.

[clydebirder]

Hii Simon

I'm still not certain about this one, did you notice any size difference between this bird and the Tufted Ducks? If it is a Scaup it should have appeared noticably larger and broader bodied than the Tufties, it certainly has Scaup features but some juvenile Tufties & of course the dreaded hybrids can show similar features.

In the Cormorant photo it looks larger than the Tufty and the head shape is markedly different which does suggest Scaup.

Juvenile Scaup often turn up inland at this time of year so that in itself wouldnt be overly unusual for them.

cheers, John

[Dennis]

I'm with John on this one. It certainly has all the features of a juv Scaup including the little black nail on the tip of it's bill. Tufties always have a far bigger tip than this.

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by Dennis

I'm with John on this one. It certainly has all the features of a juv Scaup including the little black nail on the tip of it's bill. Tufties always have a far bigger tip than this.

Thanx Dennis, I'm pretty sure it is a Scaup. Just trying to Iron out the fine detail

Cheers, John

[MIKE THROWER]

SCAUP, JUV female going into 1st winter. They seem to hang about tufties, there are a few of Musselbugh with Tufties and at distance you will struggle to part them. I photograghed a bird the same as this at Calaverock last November, and the week before I saw it it was a Tufty,Tufty x Scaup, Lesser Scaup. I will look it out and post it. It was a male there is no white on the face , but shows bill going into colour and nead shape MIKE