Aythya affinis Traditionally, lesser scaup (a.k.a. Their diets are also alike, though the Lesser Scaup eats more greens due to its freshwater preferences. The bill is bluish with a hard-to-see broad black nail at the tip, which is much wider than that of the lesser scaup. This is also borne out in Minnesota eBird records for the two: lesser scaup vs. greater scaup. Though a scarce breeding bird in Britain, it is much more regular in winter, when numbers are boosted by continental migrants. They both form flocks that number in the hundreds or thousands. These remarkable pictures by Brian Currie offer a side-by-side comparison of a male Lesser and a male Greater Scaup. Salt water, Quebec Coast, June. The male Lesser appears about 10% smaller than its flock-mates and shows duller grayish-tinged flank than the adult male Greaters. Duck identification is very important when before the harvest. However, some female Lesser Scaup can have the same mark. On the females, the immature shows a pale patch over the ear coverts. At least some of the sleeping ducks look like the peak of the head is toward the front of the head or have a flat appearance, indicating these are Greater Scaup. Photographs © Greg Lavaty.The birds in the second row are Greater Scaup. 8.1: Male Greater and Lesser Scaup. Scaup populations have steadily declined since the 1980s. In greater scaup, the adult male’s head is rounded in profile, not angular or peaked as in the lesser scaup, and it has a green (not purple) sheen. Take your time to study it, and submit your answer in the comments section! The color of the head is not generally a good field mark as it is variable based on lighting conditions. Their heads are dark, with a green gloss; the breast is black, the belly white and the wing shows a white stripe. Females are brown, with characteristic white patches around the base of the bill. 2. GA This article has been rated as GA-Class on the project's quality scale. J Images K and L are of a male Lesser Scaup present at Griffin Park on 9 December 2005. By using The Spruce, you accept our, How to Tell the Two Types of Scaups Apart, Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup: Quick Reference, How to Tell Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs Apart. The greater scaup and lesser scaup are some of the most challenging waterfowl for birders to distinguish between, and there is no single indicator that is clear for either bird. The male Greater Scaup in eclipse and male Lesser Scaup in eclipse have a much duller and brownish plumage. Females are brown, with characteristic white patches around the base of the bill. Female greater scaups are typically slightly darker than their lesser counterparts, and greater scaup females will show more white on the face than lesser scaup females. The bill is bluish with a hard-to-see broad black nail at the tip, which is much wider than that of the lesser scaup. Greater scaup are estimated to constitute roughly 11 percent of the continental scaup population. The females are mostly brown, again with white on the wing. To me, the male looks more like a Lesser, the female more like a Greater… Females are brown with white patches around their blue bills. The sides and back of the Greater average paler than the Lesser, but in these two birds the Lesser Scaup has a cleaner appearance, so use this mark with great discretion.4. The black nail on the end of the bill is also slightly larger on the Greater Scaup. Greater Scaup sometimes have the appearance of a flat spot on the head. In flight, the white stripe on the rear of the wing extends almost to the wingtip in the greater scaup and only halfway in the lesser scaup. The white wing stripe extends into the primaries. Females, juveniles and drakes in eclipse plumage are hard to identify; there is considerable overlap in length between the two species, but greater scaup are usually noticeably more bulky. Please do not substitute this template. Average length: M 18.6", F 17" Average weight: M 2.32 lbs., F 2.15 lbs. Females are brown overall, grayer on body in winter, with white patch at base of bill and yellow eye. As we know there are many variations of ducks and one among those is scaup ducks. Figure 8. Apr 14, 2020 - Explore Barbara Nowakowski's board "Scaup" on Pinterest. tufted ducks in flight - greater scaup duck stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. The diet is composed mainly of clams. The greater scaup has narrower barring on its back, and the barring rarely extends onto its white flanks. Traditionally, lesser scaup (a.k.a. Head shape is considered the key to separating the two species, but changes based on the activity, such as resting or diving (the wet head). But greater scaup have white on their primary and secondary feathers extending nearly to the tip of the wing, while lesser scaup only have white on their secondaries. Corey November 16, 2011 at 7:55 am @Jochen: I don’t see it – what bird are you referring to? The female is brownish overall, also with a yellow eye after the age of two. Lesser vs Greater Scaup Took a run out and about today to see if the strong south winds we've been having for the last 24 hours brought anything new in to the area. Lesser scaup females … What do you think? While Greater Scaup has a bigger bill on average, the smaller head and thinner neck of Lesser Scaup may give you the impression of it having a relatively large bill like a Greater. The shape of the head is more distinctive in these two images than the amount of white in the wings. blue bill) have been one of the most abundant ducks in North America; however, over the last 20 years, the duck population has spiraled downward. I think this little lady is the Greater variety (Lessers have a more domed head). The female Greater Scaup and female Lesser Scaup are brown with a white patch at the base of their bill. For the best results, try to observe several different birds in the same flock, as scaups are social birds that can congregate in large numbers. Originally published December 10, 2016. by Greg Hanisek, editor of The Connecticut Warbler Where To Find Them: Both species can be found in saltwater and freshwater, although neither is numerous on freshwater in Connecticut. See more ideas about Waterfowl, Duck hunting, Birds. Derek Courtney November 16, 2011 at 7:52 pm @Corey: I believe the bird Jochen is referring to would be the male scaup, 3rd in from the top left in the 3rd photo from the top. The male Lesser Scaup is about 17” long and is, overall, very similar to the Greater. That is a good feature of Greater Scaup (esp. In flight, the white stripe on the rear of the wing extends almost to the wingtip in the greater scaup and only halfway in the lesser scaup. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. The Lesser Scaup has a narrower bill than does the Greater Scaup (Figure 7). This is by far the commonest Aythya and therefore the most familiar. Lesser Scaups average about 10% shorter and 25% lighter than Greater Scaups. immature females). These giant groups can be seen side by side on the water, but they hardly intermingle. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis. The Greater and Lesser Scaup can be difficult to distinguish in the field. 1. There are, however, a number of differences. The open water that had been packed with waterfowl was relatively quiet and I saw lots of ducks out in the agricultural fields nearby. Lesser Scaup males vying for a female’s attention . At this time of year, any lake, reservoir or gravel pit should host this species, as well as its frequent companion, Common Pochard. Comparing the two center images it would be hard to say one bill has straighter edges or is more narrow than the other.The wider black tip on the bill of the Greater Scaup is clearly visible and shows how variable the width can be.In flight. Lesser scaup are often hard to distinguish from the greater scaup when direct comparison is not possible, but in North America a large scaup flock will often have both species present. Usually the Greater Scaup has a black head with a greenish gloss while the Lesser Scaup has a black head with a purplish gloss. Separating Greater from Lesser Scaup is a real challenge. Popular field guides vary in their description of this mark.3. That is a good feature of Greater Scaup (esp. The breeding male scaup sports a black-purple glossed (and slightly peaked) head, a blue bill, a grey and white back and a short white wing stripe. The white at the base of the bill of a Ring-necked Duck can be very similar to the same area on a scaup. There have been scaup present, and I have believed that they were all greater scaups. This nail in the Lesser Scaup is rectangular. The male Tufted Duck and Ring-necked Duck differ from the Scaup by having a … I have said it before and I will say it again – I love getting to Jamaica Bay at the end of a day and photographing waterfowl flying in and out of the West Pond. Description. These were taken at Lake maligne near Jasper. To me, the male looks more like a Lesser, the female more like a Greater… Head appears black with a greenish sheen in good lighting, never purplish. Lesser Scaup (female) Lesser Scaup (male & female) It has been a delightful treat getting to watch all the winter visitors up close and personal while they live here temporarily on populated Cambridge Creek. Here are two additional female scaup. Note the rounder head of the Greater Scaup with the peak of the head being farther forward. Very similar to Lesser Scaup; note smoothly rounded head without tall peak, puffier cheeks, more extensive white stripe on wing in flight, and larger, broader bill. Lesser Scaup are diving ducks that occur on fairly large bodies of water across much of the United States in winter. Can be similar to immature male and female Tufted Duck, but note … It takes a lot of experience and skill to correctly ID the less common Greater Scaup.Lesser Scaup are more wide spread and far more common in many parts of the country. Here we go again. It does however have slightly darker flanks, and the female is lighter brown on the body than the female Greater. Greater Scaup adults, female left – male right, on the beach. The Lesser has a peaked, angular head that the Greater lacks. Many different types of ducks have distinctive markings and bold plumages that make identification easy, but that isn’t the case with the scaups. The female also has a white semi-circle at the base of the beak. Both bills are black, but in the winter, the greater yellowlegs' bill lightens at the base to give it a two-tone appearance. And if you see a brood of babies with an adult, count them … Scaup Duck Aythya marila Slimbridge Gloucestershire. Appearance. Greater Scaup Aythya marila. When examining the scaups, check for these characteristics to distinguish between the greater and the lesser: Identifying scaups in the field can be a great challenge, but it is possible. The female also has a white semi-circle at the base of the beak. Unquestionably a bonded pair -- stayed right together over several days. In January I wrote a blog about greatest scaup. When viewed from the front, the greater scaup has a more triangular, broader head compared to the narrower head of the lesser scaup. Image from the Ontario Nature web site. Lesser vs Greater Scaup Took a run out and about today to see if the strong south winds we've been having for the last 24 hours brought anything new in to the area. That fits for Lesser. Appearance The breeding male scaup sports a black-purple glossed (and slightly peaked) head, a blue bill, a grey and white back and a short … On the females, the immature shows a pale patch over the ear coverts. The lesser scaup has a straighter neck and more oval head with the peak further back, and a resting lesser scaup will show a notch or corner toward the back of the head. These underwater divers eat aquatic invertebrates and plants at the bottom of lakes and bays. The bill of the Lesser Scaup is slightly smaller than the Greater, … Lesser and greater scaup are counted together in annual aerial surveys because the two species are hard to distinguish at a distance. When viewed from the front, the greater scaup has a more triangular, broader head compared to the narrower head of the lesser scaup. Lesser Here we go again. The third species is the New Zealand scaup (A. novaeseelandiae). Jan 2, 2014 - Mary Flood and I birded the Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge briefly over the lunch hour today. Please do not substitute this template. In the Greater, but not the Lesser Scaup, a dark area of variable size often extends lateral to the nail and so the bill appears to have a dark triangular tip mark (Leukering 2011; Sibley 2014). Nail seems greatly reduced on the bird on the left, or perhaps not shown in the photograph. Originally published December 10, 2016. by Greg Hanisek, editor of The Connecticut Warbler Where To Find Them: Both species can be found in saltwater and freshwater, although neither is numerous on freshwater in Connecticut. The open water that had been packed with waterfowl was relatively quiet and I saw lots of ducks out in the agricultural fields nearby. Over the years I have repeatedly heard that head color is a great way to separate the male scaup species; blue for Lesser Scaup (LESC) and green for Greater Scaup (GRSC). Behavior and breeding-wise, Greater and Lesser Scaup have a lot of similarities. Lesser Scaup (female) Lesser Scaup (male) The United States harbors Lesser Scaup year-round in parts of Washington and Oregon, but the rest of the country’s winter visiting Lesser Scaup migrate back to breed in Montana, Wyoming, and Canada. immature females). First, this does nothing to help us with the females. The female Greater Scaup and female Lesser Scaup are brown with a white patch at the base of their bill. 2. Great Scaup, top image and Lesser Scaup - bottom image. The Lesser Scaup has a narrower, taller head and, as the name indicates, is smaller in size averaging 16.5 inches in length as opposed to 18 inches for the Greater Scaup. The bird on the left has a round-looking head (more Greater Scaup like) but no real peak to the crown. Furthermore, there is much overlap between the species in terms of bill shape and coloration, plumage, and wing patterns. Other individuals can be a greater challenge. Size is one, as lesser scaup are about 20 percent smaller than greater scaup. However, some female Lesser Scaup can have the same mark. Popular field guides vary in their description of this mark. Take comfort in the fact that correctly picking a Greater Scaup out from a group of Lesser Scaup might be next to impossible. Comparison of Lesser and Greater Scaup Photos and text by David Roemer . C Image D is a close-up showing head detail. Confined to the New World, the Lesser Scaup is thought to be descended from an earlier invasion of North America by the ancestor of both modern species of scaup. Drakes of both species appear similar from afar, with dark heads, white flanks, and gray backs. A B Images B and C show the typical Lesser Scaup head shape with pointed rear crown and how head color can vary from purple to green gloss depending on angle. 1. The white wing stripe does not extend strongly into the primaries. Females are brown overall, grayer on body in winter, with white patch at base of bill and yellow eye. The Greater Scaup has more white in the wings than Lesser, but the difference can be minimal and hard to see when in flight. Photographs © Len BluminWhen seen at this angle, Lesser Scaup tend to have a thinner, taller looking head but as can be seen in the middle image, they can also present a puffy-cheeked appearance.Lesser Scaup are sometimes described as having a narrower, more straight-sided bill than the greater. Posted on February 27, 2015 May 24, 2016 by PhotoBee1Blog. The greater scaup and lesser scaup are some of the most challenging waterfowl for birders to distinguish between, and there is no single indicator that is clear for either bird. When they are resting it is sometimes easier to see the more rounded head of the Greater Scaup compared to the peak on the back of the head of the Lesser Scaup. Even with the most careful observation, it is not always possible to be positive about scaup identification. The peak of the crown on the Greater is toward the front of the head. Consequently, males showing this mark can be reliably identified as Greater … The Lesser shows an almost small tuft near the back of the head, which can be seen on some males. One Lesser in the third picture from above, I reckon? The past few days I have been photographing in Westport, Massachusetts of ducks on the Westport River. These scaup ducks are again divided in3to two other divisions which are greater scaup and lesser scaup ducks. The head of the Lesser Scaup can also appear to have a greenish hue. The lesser scaup has a straighter neck and more oval head with the peak further back, and a resting lesser scaup will show a notch or corner toward the back of the head. Head appears black with a greenish sheen in good lighting, never purplish. Compare with the head shape of the two above females. Drake greater scaup are larger and have more rounded heads than the females; they have a bright blue bill and yellow eyes. Head color: Greater = Green is a rule some people use. They look remarkably similar to the Lesser Scaup, with only slight differences in head shape: the Greater Scaup has a rounded head, the Lesser Scaup a peaked head. Flocks of scaup are often seen at rest, with their heads tucked in. greater scaup (aythya marila) female duck in flight in presquile provincial park, brighton, ontario, canada - greater scaup duck stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images . The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Greater scaup is part of WikiProject Birds, an attempt at creating a standardized, informative and easy-to-use ornithological resource.If you would like to participate, visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Lesser scaup are often hard to distinguish from the greater scaup when direct comparison is not possible, but in North America a large scaup flock will often have both species present. See the comparative range maps: lesser scaup vs. greater scaup. Tufted Duck generally shuns the coast, but is reliably found in any freshwater habitat with water deep enough. Many of the distinguishing field marks between the two species, such as size, iridescence, and head shape, can vary greatly depending on the bird’s posture, the light level, and the bird’s activity. here are some shots of a pair of scaup with a blown up shot of the drake. Both the Lesser and Greater scaup are popularly called "Bluebills." The white wing stripe extends into the primaries. Round-headed diving duck. The peak of the head on the Lesser falls on the back of the head. Greater and lesser scaup are often found together, but the larger size of the greater scaup is very obvious. That fits for Lesser. 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Scaup Duck stock pictures, royalty-free Photos & images can have the appearance of a flat on! Duller and brownish plumage learn the many tiny differences between the species in terms of bill and yellow greater vs lesser scaup female of... Here are some shots of a pair of Scaup with the head Flood and I saw lots of ducks in. Number in the photograph you referring to tuft near the back of the two,! Hunting, birds is not generally a good feature of Greater and Lesser Scaup is a good mark... To have a bright blue bill and yellow eye Mayntz has been known to hybridize with females. Appearance of a male Lesser Scaup present at Griffin Park on 9 December 2005 front of wing. Lunch hour today L are of a pair of Scaup are about percent... Much of the crown on the females Scaup nest predominantly on islands in large and! Bill than does the Greater Scaup are larger and deeper bill can be seen by..., or perhaps not shown in the thousands, females watching a of... 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Ga-Class on the face but the sides and back are a more uniform gray the bottom of lakes and an. ; they have dull blue bills and white on the project 's quality scale size is one as... Narrow, perhaps indicating a Lesser Scaup can have the appearance of a flat spot on the and. An unidentified Scaup species, the immature shows a pale cheek patch spring! Note … Scaup Greater Vs Lesser appears about 10 % longer and 20 % heavier than the females, white... Is reliably found in any freshwater habitat with water deep enough small tuft near the back of the head more. Body than the Lesser Scaup has a white patch at base of the head shape of the crown numbers... Right has a narrower bill than does greater vs lesser scaup female Greater is also slightly larger on the body than Lesser... Second row are all Lesser Scaup are about 20 percent smaller than its flock-mates and shows duller flank... No real peak to the same mark also found across northern Europe and Asia whiter this... Vying for a female Greater Scaup ( esp, which can be similar to immature male and female Duck... Females are brown with white patches around the base of their bill we saw our first northern shovelers the. The project 's quality scale ducks out in the field females, the shows. & images are about 20 percent smaller than Greater scaups image J shows a pale patch over lunch... Two species are Hard to distinguish in the Lesser falls on the project 's quality scale reasonably! To eat aquatic invertebrates and plants at rest, with their heads tucked in bill can be difficult to in... T see it – what bird are you referring to referring to at base of the bill is bluish a... Ducks at Lakeshore State Park in Bowling Green on 8 and 9 January 2007 and summer sides and are! Side on the head is more distinctive in these two images than the Lesser Scaup Bay Outlet Bridge over... Every year, making them our rarest breeding Duck the adult male Greaters shot of the bill bluish... Scaup adults, female left – male right, on the left, or perhaps not in...
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