Lesser vs. Greater Scaup

[TN/QC]

Salt water, Quebec Coast, June.   Unquestionably a bonded pair -- stayed right together over several days. 

 

To me, the male looks more like a Lesser, the female more like a Greater.  Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

[akiley]

This is a pair of Lesser Scaup. Note the head shape (which is variable, but Greaters' heads are usually very wide rathern than tall), smaller/thinner bill than Greater, and smaller black nail on the male's bill. 

[akiley]

Also, look at the last two photos of the male flapping his wings.  The white stripe only extends about halfway out the wing- a good field mark for Lesser when seen well like this. Very different from Greaters in this respect.

[psweet]

I'm not sure that the female is a Lesser -- the head shape seems to be consistently closer to Greater. In June on salt water, you're not likely to have a mated pair. These are likely birds that aren't actually breeding right now.

[TN/QC]

Agreed. I purposely said bonded rather than mated, as these birds, if Lesser, are several hundred miles from their breeding area. Greater Scaup, however, do breed on the Gaspé Peninsula, where I sit. But they are inseparable.  

I have additional photos if needed.  I never thought this was going to be a slam-dunk.