Lesser or Greater Scaup - Sacramento NWR

[Lesliemorris]

Surprised to see this guy.  Lesser or Greater, I don't see to many so cannot tell.  Lesser would be the most commonly seen.

[IKLland]

Looks good for lesser due to the head shape. 

[PaulK]

Agree with lesser. Eye halfway up a relatively svelte head.

[Charlie Spencer]

6 hours ago, PaulK said:

Agree with lesser. Eye halfway up a relatively svelte head.

The eye position is a new one on me.  What's the Greater difference?

Thanks.

[PaulK]

4 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said:

The eye position is a new one on me.  What's the Greater difference?

Thanks.

Quoting Tony Leukering from this:

Eye placement: Though subtle, with experience, eye placement can provide a strong clue as to an individual scaup’s identity. ... In Lesser Scaup, the eye is lower than the mid-point of the head from top to bottom, while the eye of Greater Scaup is above the mid-point. Thus, Lesser Scaup shows proportionately more head above the eyes than does Greater Scaup. However, beware of actively-foraging Lesser.

[IKLland]

On 12/4/2021 at 7:19 AM, PaulK said:

Quoting Tony Leukering from this:

Eye placement: Though subtle, with experience, eye placement can provide a strong clue as to an individual scaup’s identity. ... In Lesser Scaup, the eye is lower than the mid-point of the head from top to bottom, while the eye of Greater Scaup is above the mid-point. Thus, Lesser Scaup shows proportionately more head above the eyes than does Greater Scaup. However, beware of actively-foraging Lesser.

I knew that, but couldn’t remember which was which. Thanks for bringing this up. 

[Seanbirds]

That’s a good photo!