Here it evolved into a distinct species, to be joined later by a second arrival, the Greater Scaup, found in both hemispheres. Carl Mobile, AL DHBP Member since 1998 "Life is too short to drink bad beer." It has a blue bill and yellow eyes and is 20% heavier and 10% longer than the closely related lesser scaup. Both species migrate late, sometimes just before freezeup. Some Greaters may show a bump on the front and rear crown, but its lower profile, evenly rounded head shape differs from Lesser, which has a taller, narrower head with a peak near the rear of the crown. The lesser scaup has a straighter neck and more oval head with the peak further back, and a resting lesser scaup will show a notch or corner toward the back of the head. Size is one, as lesser scaup are about 20 percent smaller than greater scaup. NOTE- Greater and Lesser Scaup - Due to the fact that it is extremely difficult to determine the difference between the two species, a third photo must be included for certification of these two species. Let’s talk about "Oreo ducks." Lesser and greater scaup are counted together in annual aerial surveys because the two species are hard to distinguish at a distance. National Audubon Society Confined to the New World, the Lesser Scaup is thought to be descended from an earlier invasion of North America by the ancestor of both modern species of scaup. Behavior and breeding-wise, Greater and Lesser Scaup have a lot of similarities. The only circumpolar diving duck, the Greater Scaup breeds across the tundra regions in North America and Europe. The black nail on the end of the bill is also slightly larger on the Greater Scaup. Except for the wing marks, greater and lesser scaup appear nearly identical in the field. The Greater breeds primarily in the far north on tundra lakes and ponds. Very similar to Lesser Scaup; note smoothly rounded head without tall peak, puffier cheeks, more extensive white stripe on wing in flight, and larger, broader bill. Wing Pattern: If seen in flight, the amount of white on the wings can help birders tell the difference between scaups. Their diets are also alike, though the Lesser Scaup eats more greens due to its freshwater preferences. During winter, location can be a deciding factor. In the Greater Scaup, the white extends into the primaries. Greater scaup prefer large open water areas; lesser scaup often use marshes and ponds. Ducks Unlimited has supported a variety research to determine the reasons for this downward trend in scaup numbers. Corey November 16, 2011 at 8:51 pm @Derek: I wonder. Spread the word. Other articles where Greater scaup is discussed: pochard: In the greater scaup (A. marila), a white stripe extends nearly to the wing tip; in the lesser scaup (A. affinis), the wing stripe is about half as long. Improving water quality in Lake Mitchell S.D. There are, however, a number of differences. Our email newsletter shares the latest programs and initiatives. Greater and lesser scaups appear nearly identical in the field but they have some subtle differences. Greater Scaup tend to choose saltwater bodies, while Lesser Scaup are found in freshwater zones further inland. Often in flocks with other Aythya ducks. Greater and Lesser Scaups can be difficult to distinguish in the field. Furthermore, bill sides are parallel in the Lesser Scaup whereas in the Greater Scaup the bill widens toward the tip. Lesser scaup alone are the most numerous of all North American diving ducks, accounting for almost 90 percent of the combined scaup population, making them "less" than their cousins in size only. Both images contain a male Greater Scaup in the center, and image N has a male Ring-necked Duck on the left. Tufted Ducks hew to their name pretty closely: Males have a spray of feathers that curves back behind their head, forming a tuft. Here, black-and-white males and chocolatey-brown females bob along on the waves. DU celebrates historic signing of ACE Act into law. This is by far the commonest Aythya and therefore the most familiar. Hard to tell in the field. Had great views of this new arrival at Pennington yesterday, it is fully winged, un-ringed and structurally pretty good, but I have a nagging doubt over the extent of the white in the outer wing - see below. Apr 2, 2013 - Greater Scaup Vs. Overwhelmed and Understaffed, Our National Wildlife Refuges Need Help. You know, those diving ducks that are black on the ends and white in the middle? 01:07 © Jay McGowan | Macaulay Library . We protect birds and the places they need. And remember: Even if you make the wrong call, the ducks won’t think any less of you. I believe this is the best separation clue used by sea-watch counters for scaup in flight. Greater scaup are primarily tundra breeders and winter in coastal areas. Lesser Scaup - Pennington, Gtr Mcr, UK - or is it? Greater and lesser scaup share a number of traits, not the least of which is a distinctive blue bill, from which they derive their popular nickname "bluebills." Are the Trump Administration's Environmental Rollbacks Built to Last? When they’re active—feeding, flying, etc.—they move their necks, which makes it difficult to choose between round or narrow. The Greater Scaup can easily be confused with its cousin the Lesser Scaup, which are nearly identical in the field except for the wing marks. Both the male and the female have a short white stripe on their wings. Lesser Scaups average about 10% shorter and 25% lighter than Greater Scaups. Other notes: The best time to review the shape of the head is when the ducks are loafing around or napping. Scaups gather in huge flocks offshore in winter and dive for shellfish (hence scaup, from scallop). Oil spills, climate change, fishing, shipping routes—threats facing Arctic seabirds are vast, and hard to track. Over the years I have repeatedly heard that head color is a great way to separate the male scaup species; blue for Lesser Scaup (LESC) and green for Greater Scaup (GRSC). Lesser vs. Though a scarce breeding bird in Britain, it is much more regular in winter, when numbers are boosted by continental migrants. And if you see a brood of babies with an adult, count them up: Lessers should have 8 to 14, while Greaters should have 5 to 11. These aren't the noisiest ducks, but the Lesser will emit an occasional whistle and has a higher pitch. They congregate by the hundreds and thousands along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts during winter. The origin of the term scaup, however, is less clear. Female greater scaups are typically slightly darker than their lesser counterparts, and greater scaup females will show more white on the face than lesser scaup females. blue bill) have been one of the most abundant ducks in North America; however, over the last 20 years, the duck population has spiraled downward. Some clues to help distinguish between these two often-confused finches. I purposely didn't mention it in my post, but photos 1 and 2 showed the same individual from two different angles. So what’s a bewildered scaup watcher to do? During migration and winter, Lesser Scaup form large flocks on lakes, bays, rivers, and larger wetlands. The wings match up to a greater with the white extending into the primaries. It is broader away from the head in more of a spoon shape. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis. T The shape of the head is more distinctive in these two images than the amount of white in the wings. Tell Congress to stop efforts to strip away critical protections in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Tufted Duck generally shuns the coast, but is reliably found in any freshwater habitat with water deep enough. Though common in Europe and Asia, the species is considered rare in the continental United States. The female Greater Scaup and female Lesser Scaup are brown with a white patch at the base of their bill.
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