Usha Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I saw this duck in flight today in Maricopa County, Arizona over a lake. Is it a scaup?...may be greater. Any help is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usha Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 I am not sure if it is a same bird or a different one but photographed a second one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) I think that is a Blue-winged Teal. The second photo is of scaup for sure Edited January 6, 2020 by Kevin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usha Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 24 minutes ago, Kevin said: I think that is a Blue-winged Teal. The second photo is of scaup for sure I thought it was blue winged teal but not seeing the blue patches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 How comfortable are we with Blue-winged for the top bird? I browsed Macaulay and can't find a shot as much dark under the wing, esp on that first photo. All of the underwing shots show white mostly on the secondaries and tertials, with more dark on the primaries than just the trailing edge. I think that's more than just the light. Also, the upper wing patch in the Macaulay photos looks like it extends more toward the trailing edge than in the second shot. https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=buwtea&mediaType=p&sort=rating_rank_desc#_ga=2.39744611.1138926545.1578320643-1693943557.1525713921 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usha Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 I got the feedback for first bird from eBird reviewer that it is female ring necked : note the pale ring around its bill, its white eyering, and compact Aythya body shape. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 Blue-winged Teal have pale wing coverts, not pale flight feathers. All birds in the three photos are obviously of Aythya ducks. The first, with its apparent large head and gray flight feathers, is a female Redhead. The duo, with their white secondaries, are scaup and, with the contrast between white secondaries and gray primaries, are either Lesser Scaup or immature female Greater Scaup. Without more and better photos, I wouldn't want to claim Greater, so would stick with Occam in this case and go with Lesser. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinHood Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 26 minutes ago, Tony Leukering said: The first, with its apparent large head and gray flight feathers, is a female Redhead. @Tony Leukering. Just wondering if you meant to say Ring-necked. Very much appreciate all your recent input, the gulls in particular for me. Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 45 minutes ago, RobinHood said: @Tony Leukering. Just wondering if you meant to say Ring-necked. Very much appreciate all your recent input, the gulls in particular for me. Regards. 1 hour ago, Tony Leukering said: The first, with its apparent large head and gray flight feathers, is a female Redhead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 On 1/9/2020 at 3:42 PM, RobinHood said: @Tony Leukering. Just wondering if you meant to say Ring-necked. Very much appreciate all your recent input, the gulls in particular for me. Regards. Nope. Ring-necked have fairly small heads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinHood Posted January 11, 2020 Share Posted January 11, 2020 5 minutes ago, Tony Leukering said: Nope. Ring-necked have fairly small heads. Agreed and very much appreciate the response (still learning) but I am puzzled by the amount of white on the head as I don't think this is lighting or artifacts. At this point I am going to bow out not so gracefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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