Sugar Land Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 taken yesterday near Houston. thanks in advance A) B) C) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan B Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 I think C might be a Greater, B is a lesser, and I'm not sure about A 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Thomas 2.0 Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Aidan B said: I think C might be a Greater, B is a lesser, and I'm not sure about A Aidan, you know I'm only trying to learn here, but it seems implicit by your answer that Greaters can sometimes have a purple sheen then, unless I'm seeing something that isn't really there? I think I remember Sibley's 2nd saying never purple, but could be wrong as always...(head shape on C looks great to me though) Edited January 12 by Caley Thomas 2.0 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 15 minutes ago, Caley Thomas 2.0 said: Aidan, you know I'm only trying to learn here, but it seems implicit by your answer that Greaters can sometimes have a purple sheen then, unless I'm seeing something that isn't really there? I think I remember Sibley's 2nd saying never purple, but could be wrong as always...(head shape on C looks great to me though) I don't know if 'purple sheen, is just the way the black head is reflecting the light. Color sheen on both scaup is of questionable value. That strong bill-to-forehead angle is a better tool for Greater; compare it with the Lesser in B photo. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caley Thomas 2.0 Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 3 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: I don't know if 'purple sheen, is just the way the black head is reflecting the light. Color sheen on both scaup is of questionable value. That strong bill-to-forehead angle is a better tool for Greater; compare it with the Lesser in B photo. Useful, that. Thanks Charlie! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan B Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 I never use head sheen in identifying Scaup. I've seen Lesser with a green sheen too many times to count, and Greater with a dark head that can appear purple occasionally (though It's never actually purple, just dark). https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/140636861 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/321662771 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 3 hours ago, Caley Thomas 2.0 said: Aidan, you know I'm only trying to learn here, but it seems implicit by your answer that Greaters can sometimes have a purple sheen then, unless I'm seeing something that isn't really there? I think I remember Sibley's 2nd saying never purple, but could be wrong as always...(head shape on C looks great to me though) Lighting can make colors very misrepresented. Also, my Peterson field guide to advanced birding says that head gloss should NEVER be used to identify a scaup, but let’s say if you see a scaup and your learning lesser, having a purple head gloss can make you lean lesser even more. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 52 minutes ago, IKLland said: your learning lesser, There is no way I could learn any lesser. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said: There is no way I could learn any lesser. Might be able to learn a greater though.🤔 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulK Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 2 hours ago, Kevin said: Might be able to learn a greater though.🤔 Aw geez is this going to turn into another thread about the best Buc-ee's locations? 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 (edited) 12 hours ago, Kevin said: Might be able to learn a greater though.🤔 I can tell a Greater Scaup from a Lesser Yellowlegs, and vice-versa the other way around backwards, but not from a Greater or Least Black-backed Gull 'cause there ain't one. Edited January 13 by Charlie Spencer 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestranger Posted January 13 Share Posted January 13 14 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: There is no way I could learn any lesser. Just hang out in online chat forums for a while and you'll start learning lesser. I am certain that is what is happening to everyone reading more than the ID comments in this thread. 🤪 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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