Bad pics of ducks

[gstacks]

Today on the St. Croix river between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

 

[IKLland]

Those look like scaup, but I’m not sure they’re identifiable.

[Charlie Spencer]

Can we eliminate Ring-necked, or are we stuck with "Aythya sp."?

[RobinHood]

54 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said:

Can we eliminate Ring-necked, or are we stuck with "Aythya sp."?

They're not Ring-necked so Greater/Lesser Scaup, (probably Greater for me with the rounded head and the bill size of the female but can't tell from this photo).

[neilpa]

3 hours ago, RobinHood said:

They're not Ring-necked so Greater/Lesser Scaup, (probably Greater for me with the rounded head and the bill size of the female but can't tell from this photo).

Really? There's a lot of black on the back of the male bird. The female doesn't appear to have the white spots at the front of the face either, although the head is rather dark.

[Avery]

3 hours ago, neilpa said:

Really? There's a lot of black on the back of the male bird. The female doesn't appear to have the white spots at the front of the face either, although the head is rather dark.

The backs can appear darker if viewed from certain angles. The male lacks the shoulder spur of a RNDU as well.

[RobinHood]

20 hours ago, neilpa said:

Really? There's a lot of black on the back of the male bird. The female doesn't appear to have the white spots at the front of the face either, although the head is rather dark.

Apologies for slow response, busy day. What Avery said plus the head/bill profile - head of Ring-necked almost always appears somewhat pointed towards the back and the bill of this female is too heavy, Ring-necked has a more pointed bill. Females of both species have a white patch at the base of the bill. The lack of a shoulder spur is the clincher.