Greater versus Lesser Scaup in Peterborough
Tom Momeyer
Hi,
I uploaded photos of scaup to https://www.momeyergallery.com/Scaup-Photos-3-15-24/n-fRPJh4
As a relative birding newbie (3 yrs in), I’ll defer to others on the lesser vs greater scaup. Let me know what you think. After resolving ID, I'll edit my eBird report accordingly.
Why is there white on the back of one of the scaup? There was a possible female scaup, however, I don't think there is/was a female scaup (??) as my photos show the scaup next to a female ring-necked duck(?).
Comments can be made on each photo if helpful to point out a feature distinguishing greater from lesser scaup. Photos can be downloaded if that's helpful.
Thanks, Tom
Thomas E. Momeyer
9 Scott Street
Peterborough, NH 03458
https://www.momeyergallery.com/
From: Frechette <frech...@myfairpoint.net>
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2024 8:35 PM
To: Nora Hanke <nha...@antioch.edu>
Cc: Tom Momeyer <t...@momeyer.com>
Subject: Re: scaup ID
In the middle picture the bird on the right has a very stout, somewhat massive bill while the bird on the left appears to have a more delicate bill. Sure, the bills are not positioned the same but the difference seems real to me. This suggests the left bird is a lesser and right hand bird a greater. The head seems more rounded and the peak more to the top of the head on the right hand bird while the peak is behind the eye on the left bird. Again, this suggests that both species are present Lesser on the left, Greater on the Right.
Thoughts?
Rich
Sent from my iPad
On Mar 16, 2024, at 6:27 PM, Nora Hanke <nha...@antioch.edu> wrote:
Hi Tom and Rich,
Here are some additional photos.
Def. no slam dunk pics for a Lesser, especially because no photos or views showed a clearly taller head/neck. But I thought one M looked a little smaller and with a narrower head, possibly a different position of head peak or head contour.
<scaup_WTP15Mar24bc.JPG>
<scaup_WTP15Mar24dc.JPG>
<scaup_WTP15Mar24cc.JPG>
