Brett H Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 I saw this duck about 200 feet off of the rocky coast of Fort Foster Park in Kittery, Maine today (2/29). The picture is horrible, but you can see a clean transition between a dark head/neck and light colored chest. The back also looks boldly patterned. The forehead is steeply sloped. The color pattern suggests common merganser but the head and bill shape are all wrong. I feel like I can rule out other ducks with similar color patterns (goldeneye, pintail, shoveler). I appreciate your input! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 Did the bird ever move? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 Did the bird ever move? By the pictures you can tell it head turned slightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdbrain22 Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 1st winter male Common Eider 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 (edited) Head shape doesn't fit with Common Eider. Edited February 29, 2020 by Jefferson Shank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 (edited) I brightened the image. The head shape matches Common Goldeneye. And on the brightened image, I think I can see a slight cheek patch and golden eye.. Edited February 29, 2020 by Jefferson Shank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 (edited) Never mind. Edited February 29, 2020 by Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdbrain22 Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 5 minutes ago, Jefferson Shank said: Head shape doesn't fit with Common Eider. It most certainly does... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett H Posted February 29, 2020 Author Share Posted February 29, 2020 It moved a little bit, but not in a way that was helpful for IDing it! I attached another photo but I doubt it'll be of any help. I ruled out eider because of the head and bill shape, but the color pattern certainly makes it a possibility. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdbrain22 Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 The head shape is fine for Eider 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 The head shape is fine for Eider Not really... The bird on the picture has a much steeper forehead than the slant of the common eider and the bill shape of the common eider is different too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett H Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 Thank you both for you input. @Jefferson Shank, genius idea of brightening the image! I hadn't thought to do that. I lean towards goldeneye over eider because I can't get past the slope of the forehead and shape of the bill. It's a strange combination of ducks of ducks to be deciding between. But I had already seen both species in the general area today, so I can deal with it. I was sort of hoping someone would suggest shelduck! Thanks again, Brett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdbrain22 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 6 minutes ago, Brett H said: Thank you both for you input. @Jefferson Shank, genius idea of brightening the image! I hadn't thought to do that. I lean towards goldeneye over eider because I can't get past the slope of the forehead and shape of the bill. It's a strange combination of ducks of ducks to be deciding between. But I had already seen both species in the general area today, so I can deal with it. I was sort of hoping someone would suggest shelduck! Thanks again, Brett Problem is it is 100% a Common Eider 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Common Eider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 It’s a Common Eider. Head shape is fine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Guys, this bird isn’t a Goldeneye and frankly I see virtually nothing that supports that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phalarope713 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Yep, definitely a Common Eider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 (edited) 11 hours ago, Brett H said: It moved a little bit, but not in a way that was helpful for IDing it! It moved enough to show it wasn't a washed-out stray decoy. As@Kevin said, "Never mind". Edited March 1, 2020 by Charlie Spencer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett H Posted March 1, 2020 Author Share Posted March 1, 2020 OK OK, majority rules... Eider it is! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Leukering Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 14 hours ago, birdbrain22 said: The head shape is fine for Eider Agreed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birding Boy Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 Absolutely Common Eider! Nice bird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean C Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 agreed! cool bird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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