38 replies to this topic

[ant_anks]

Hello! I spotted a few new ducks this evening, and thought it would be a good opportunity to test out the new forum, as well as get confirmations (or corrections)

The first, I'm quite certain is a Redhead

[ant_anks]

Here's the second, that I'm less sure about.

Lesser Scaups?

[ant_anks]

And of course I forgot the location. These were both taken in Eau Claire, WI tonight. Thank you for the help!

[stewart1998]

RedHead, and Ring-necked Ducks. I'm soooo jealous of the redhead.!

[ant_anks]

RedHead, and Ring-necked Ducks. I'm soooo jealous of the redhead.!

aaaaah, yes. The female should have given it away. She doesn't look anything like the Scaup female Thanks for the ID!

[illin]

The way i tell Ring-necks is by the way the line that separates the back color from the side color is shaped like an S on it side on the drakes. You probably noticed this in the field. You can spot it a long way off because of the sharp contrast between the two colors.

[Liam]

RedHead, and Ring-necked Ducks. I'm soooo jealous of the redhead.!

Stewart, I've seen Redhead at the Center for Wildlife Education in Statesboro. I highly suggest going in Winter. The Redheads and Wigeons may be about around now.

[Davis Bruce]

We have a lake just outside of Ft. Desoto Park in St. Petersburg, FL that has Redheads by the hundreds all winter long.

[mtdavid]

The male duck isn't a Ring-necked. No ring on the bill, back isn't black, side isn't gray with a white spur... sure looks like a Scaup species to me, leaning Greater but wouldn't call it from this photo.

[creeker]

The male duck isn't a Ring-necked. No ring on the bill, back isn't black, side isn't gray with a white spur... sure looks like a Scaup species to me, leaning Greater but wouldn't call it from this photo.

Hold your control button down and scroll this pic to enlarge. You can even see the ring on his neck.
EDIT: Actually, you don't even need to click on the pic. The ring is obvious even in the small version.

[Sparky the Cuttlefish]

Well, I'm diving in: this looks more like a Scaup to me, as well, based on the whiteness of the flanks, the greyer hint on the wings (in a RNDU I'd expect for the tail to be the same color as the wings), the seemingly uniformly colored bill, and the lack of distinct "S" shape of the wings. I'm also not seeing much of a white spur by the chest. However, if this is a Scaup, it would for sure be Lesser, not Greater, based on the peaked head.

Sorry to further confuse things!

[mtdavid]

Well I am standing by my Scaup ID after staring some more at the photo. Leaning greater because 1) Peakiness can be present in Greater from Sibleys drawings, so greater shouldn't be ruled out. 2) Forehead looks very low. 3) Flanks look very pure white with no barring. As all these characteristics are variable and it's a small picture I wouldn't call it as I said.

[MarkBird]

The hen is definitely a ring-necked.

That could make you say the drake is guilty by association. But, where's the black tip on the bill, or the ring on the bill for that matter? The back doesn't look solid black either. My first thought was Lesser, and I'm still thinking scaup sp. on the drake.

Any other pictures to clarify?

[grammarcat]

Agree with scaup for reasons stated above, but I'm not sure about lesser vs. greater.

[stewart1998]

It's not a scaup. You have to look close to see the id marks.

[EyesOnTheSky]

I see a solid colored bill. Looks like a Lesser Scaup to me to.

[MATT K]

Solid color bill, pure white flanks, and no "spur" at the shoulder point to scaup to me.

[JimBob]

I saw the photo, and right away thought, "Scaup". As to which species, I still am debating. But for me, this is not a Ring-necked Duck.

::Edit:: The female is a female Ring-necked Duck. The male is what I was talking about.

[ColoTomo]

I'm not seeing the ring on the bill, nor the sharply contrasting back. Could be a trick of the lighting, but it's looking like Scaup for me

[Liam]

I agree with Lesser Scaup.