Photographs © Greg Lavaty.The birds in the second row are Greater Scaup. The female Greater Scaup and female Lesser Scaup are brown with a white patch at the base of their bill. Here are two additional female scaup. Lesser Scaups average about 10% shorter and 25% lighter than Greater Scaups. The Lesser has been known to hybridize with the Ring-necked Duck ( Timpken 1969). When they are resting it is sometimes easier to see the more rounded head of the Greater Scaup compared to the peak on the back of the head of the Lesser Scaup. The greater scaup and lesser scaup are some of the most challenging waterfowl for birders to distinguish between, and there is no single indicator that is clear for either bird. Lesser Scaup (female) Lesser Scaup (male) The United States harbors Lesser Scaup year-round in parts of Washington and Oregon, but the rest of the country’s winter visiting Lesser Scaup migrate back to breed in Montana, Wyoming, and Canada. They look remarkably similar to the Lesser Scaup, with only slight differences in head shape: the Greater Scaup has a rounded head, the Lesser Scaup a peaked head. It is generally grayer on the Ring-necked Duck but can be whiter than this particular duck. 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. Greater scaup is part of WikiProject Birds, an attempt at creating a standardized, informative and easy-to-use ornithological resource.If you would like to participate, visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. When viewed from the front, the greater scaup has a more triangular, broader head compared to the narrower head of the lesser scaup. Female Lesser Scaup and her entourage . Physical Features: Greater Scaup is slightly larger than Lesser Scaup and has a more rounded head shape with a … Latin: Aythya marila . Average length: M 18.6", F 17" Average weight: M 2.32 lbs., F 2.15 lbs. 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. These remarkable pictures by Brian Currie offer a side-by-side comparison of a male Lesser and a male Greater Scaup. Males have black breast, medium gray back, white sides, and yellow eye. With practice, however, birders can be reasonably confident about which scaups they see. Lesser vs Greater Scaup Took a run out and about today to see if the strong south winds we've been having for the last 24 hours brought anything new in to the area. In flight, the white stripe on the rear of the wing extends almost to the wingtip in the greater scaup and only halfway in the lesser scaup. When examining the scaups, check for these characteristics to distinguish between the greater and the lesser: Identifying scaups in the field can be a great challenge, but it is possible. The diet is composed mainly of clams. The shape of the head is more distinctive in these two images than the amount of white in the wings. In flight, the white stripe on the rear of the wing extends almost to the wingtip in the greater scaup and only halfway in the lesser scaup. Can be similar to immature male and female Tufted Duck, but note … C Image D is a close-up showing head detail. Other individuals can be a greater challenge. These scaup ducks are again divided in3to two other divisions which are greater scaup and lesser scaup ducks. In flight they show white patches along the length of the trailing edge of the wing. While Greater Scaup has a bigger bill on average, the smaller head and thinner neck of Lesser Scaup may give you the impression of it having a relatively large bill like a Greater. Females are brown, with characteristic white patches around the base of the bill. On the females, the immature shows a pale patch over the ear coverts. This is by far the commonest Aythya and therefore the most familiar. Image J shows a female Greater Scaup second from right. 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. Females are brown overall, grayer on body in winter, with white patch at base of bill and yellow eye. The Greater shows a more rounded head appearance.3. To me, the male looks more like a Lesser, the female more like a Greater… Size is one, as lesser scaup are about 20 percent smaller than greater scaup. Great Scaup, top image and Lesser Scaup - bottom image. Even with the most careful observation, it is not always possible to be positive about scaup identification. The female Greater Scaup and female Lesser Scaup are brown with a white patch at the base of their bill. Traditionally, lesser scaup (a.k.a. The peak of the head on the Lesser falls on the back of the head. Lesser vs Greater Scaup Took a run out and about today to see if the strong south winds we've been having for the last 24 hours brought anything new in to the area. Greater and lesser scaup are often found together, but the larger size of the greater scaup is very obvious. Head shape is considered the key to separating the two species, but changes based on the activity, such as resting or diving (the wet head). Their heads are dark, with a green gloss; the breast is black, the belly white and the wing shows a white stripe. Scaup are diving ducks with a resemblance to tufted ducks. Greater scaup are estimated to constitute roughly 11 percent of the continental scaup population. Please do not substitute this template. This is also borne out in Minnesota eBird records for the two: lesser scaup vs. greater scaup. Description. Greater Scaup mainly winter at a few localities around the coast (particularly in Scotland) but the odd bird regularly turns up inland on reservoirs and the like and they can stay for extended periods. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis. Some individual birds in certain postures can be relatively easy. The Lesser shows an almost small tuft near the back of the head, which can be seen on some males. The bill of the Lesser Scaup is slightly smaller than the Greater, … In the Greater Scaup, the white extends into the primaries. The open water that had been packed with waterfowl was relatively quiet and I saw lots of ducks out in the agricultural fields nearby. Here we go again. Head appears black with a greenish sheen in good lighting, never purplish. The white at the base of the bill of a Ring-necked Duck can be very similar to the same area on a scaup. Lesser Scaup are diving ducks that occur on fairly large bodies of water across much of the United States in winter. Round-headed diving duck. Salt water, Quebec Coast, June. The color of the head is not generally a good field mark as it is variable based on lighting conditions. Greater and lesser scaup are counted together, because they are difficult to distinguish during aerial surveys. As for hybrids I don't know if we are just "lucky" at Tring but we get two or three Aythya hybrids a year on Tring Reservoirs and certainly have one or two at the moment that would have been claimed as Lesser Scaup in years gone by. Melissa Mayntz has been a birder and wild bird enthusiast for 30+ years. That fits for Lesser. immature females). Though a scarce breeding bird in Britain, it is much more regular in winter, when numbers are boosted by continental migrants. Blue-Bill - Female Scaup Hard to tell the difference between the Greater and Lesser Scaup. Originally published December 10, 2016. by Greg Hanisek, editor of The Connecticut Warbler Where To Find Them: Both species can be found in saltwater and freshwater, although neither is numerous on freshwater in Connecticut. Corey November 16, 2011 at 7:55 am @Jochen: I don’t see it – what bird are you referring to? Females are brown with white patches around their blue bills. The white wing stripe does not extend strongly into the primaries. 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. Lesser scaup females … Popular field guides vary in their description of this mark.3. The Greater and Lesser Scaup can be difficult to distinguish in the field. Furthermore, there is much overlap between the species in terms of bill shape and coloration, plumage, and wing patterns. The greater scaup has narrower barring on its back, and the barring rarely extends onto its white flanks. tufted ducks in flight - greater scaup duck stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Please do not substitute this template. Watch Queue Queue. Greater Scaup, females watching a piece of ice go by! Compare with the head shape of the two above females. The bill is bluish with a hard-to-see broad black nail at the tip, which is much wider than that of the lesser scaup. Drakes of both species appear similar from afar, with dark heads, white flanks, and gray backs. One Lesser in the third picture from above, I reckon? What do you think? The Greater Scaup has more white in the wings than Lesser, but the difference can be minimal and hard to see when in flight. Note the white eye ring and white band near the tip of the bill. 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). Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Greater Scaup sometimes have the appearance of a flat spot on the head.2. greater scaup (aythya marila) female duck in flight in presquile provincial park, brighton, ontario, canada - greater scaup duck stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images . They both form flocks that number in the hundreds or thousands. The male Greater Scaup in eclipse and male Lesser Scaup in eclipse have a much duller and brownish plumage. The peak of the crown on the Greater Scaup is toward the front of the head and over the eye. A B Images B and C show the typical Lesser Scaup head shape with pointed rear crown and how head color can vary from purple to green gloss depending on angle. http://www.ontarionature.org/. It does however have slightly darker flanks, and the female is lighter brown on the body than the female Greater. 1. These underwater divers eat aquatic invertebrates and plants at the bottom of lakes and bays. Lesser and greater scaup are counted together in annual aerial surveys because the two species are hard to distinguish at a distance. The past few days I have been photographing in Westport, Massachusetts of ducks on the Westport River. Tufted Duck generally shuns the coast, but is reliably found in any freshwater habitat with water deep enough. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, Oval, highest point near back, notch at rear, Heavier barring, barring extends onto flanks, White extends across secondary and primary feathers, Northern, saltwater, coastal, also in Eurasia, More southern, inland freshwater, North America only. She has over 16 years experience writing about wild birds for magazines and websites. Then a pop quiz of an unidentified Scaup species. There have been scaup present, and I have believed that they were all greater scaups. Salt water, Quebec Coast, June. The devilishly similar Greater Scaup often joins the group too, but the Lesser Scaup wears a tiny peaked hat that sits towards the back of the head, unlike the Greater Scaup's rounded head. There are several problems with this method. While this can be discouraging, determined birders will see it as an opportunity to sharpen their identification skills whenever they’re confronted with an unknown scaup duck. Comparison of Greater and Lesser Scaup: Help with a challenging identification is here! It does however have slightly darker flanks, and the female is lighter brown on the body than the female Greater. The Greater and Lesser Scaup can be difficult to distinguish in the field. That is a good feature of Greater Scaup (esp. The females are mostly brown, again with white on the wing. There are, however, a number of differences. Posted on February 27, 2015 May 24, 2016 by PhotoBee1Blog. The bill is bluish with a hard-to-see broad black nail at the tip, which is much wider than that of the lesser scaup. 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. The sides and back of the Greater average paler than the Lesser, but in these two birds the Lesser Scaup has a cleaner appearance, so use this mark with great discretion.4. And if you see a brood of babies with an adult, count them … See more ideas about Waterfowl, Duck hunting, Birds. immature females). Her proportionately larger and deeper bill can be seen. Males have black heads, shoulder and breast, white flanks, grey back and a black tail. The bird that is flies in and out in the greatest numbers of late is Greater Scaup Aythya marila, sometimes known as Bluebills, for obvious reasons. But greater scaup have white on their primary and secondary feathers extending nearly to the tip of the wing, while lesser scaup only have white on their secondaries. These giant groups can be seen side by side on the water, but they hardly intermingle. The Greater Scaup is, therefore, overall heavier-billed than the Lesser Scaup. ... 3 Responses to Common Goldeneye and Greater and Lesser Scaup Ducks at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin December 7, 2014. Separating Greater from Lesser Scaup is a real challenge. The female is brownish overall, also with a yellow eye after the age of two. The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The white wing stripe extends into the primaries. Flocks of scaup are often seen at rest, with their heads tucked in. Sleeping Redheads at a distance will present a similar color pattern but the sides and back are a more uniform gray. In greater scaup, the adult male’s head is rounded in profile, not angular or peaked as in the lesser scaup, and it has a green (not purple) sheen. Some female Greater Scaup may have a pale cheek patch in spring and summer. J Images K and L are of a male Lesser Scaup present at Griffin Park on 9 December 2005. Appearance The breeding male scaup sports a black-purple glossed (and slightly peaked) head, a blue bill, a grey and white back and a short … Derek Courtney November 16, 2011 at 7:52 pm @Corey: I believe the bird Jochen is referring to would be the male scaup, 3rd in from the top left in the 3rd photo from the top. Males have black heads, shoulder and breast, white flanks, grey back and a black tail. The peak of the crown on the Greater is toward the front of the head. here are some shots of a pair of scaup with a blown up shot of the drake. Their diets are also alike, though the Lesser Scaup eats more greens due to its freshwater preferences. Note the rounder head of the Greater Scaup with the peak of the head being farther forward. The black nail on the bird on the right (tip of the bill) is narrow, perhaps indicating a Lesser Scaup. As we know there are many variations of ducks and one among those is scaup ducks. Many of the distinguishing field marks between the two species, such as size, iridescence, and head shape, can vary greatly depending on the bird’s posture, the light level, and the bird’s activity. The male Lesser Scaup is about 17” long and is, overall, very similar to the Greater. Scaup Greater Vs. Aythya affinis Traditionally, lesser scaup (a.k.a. However, some female Lesser Scaup can have the same mark. First, this does nothing to help us with the females. Females, juveniles and drakes in eclipse plumage are hard to identify; there is considerable overlap in length between the two species, but greater scaup are usually noticeably more bulky. On the females, the immature shows a pale patch over the ear coverts. Winter flocks on coastal bays may number in the thousands. The Lesser Scaup has a narrower, taller head and, as the name indicates, is smaller in size averaging 16.5 inches in length as opposed to 18 inches for the Greater Scaup. Both the Lesser and Greater scaup are popularly called "Bluebills." To me, the male looks more like a Lesser, the female more like a Greater… The lesser scaup, on the other hand, has heavier barring that frequently extends lower on the white flanks. The open water that had been packed with waterfowl was relatively quiet and I saw lots of ducks out in the agricultural fields nearby. Figure 8. I agree that some Scaup show bleeding out along the edge of the upper mandible but this bird has a solid black tip. Scaup Duck Aythya marila Slimbridge Gloucestershire. Contaminants, lower female survival and reduced recruitment due to changes in breeding habitat or food resources are thought to be the primary factors contributing to the decline. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Lesser scaup are often hard to distinguish from the greater scaup when direct comparison is not possible, but in North America a large scaup flock will often have both species present. However , the head shape of the drake looks more like a greater to me. First, this does nothing to help us with the females. Images A-F are of a pair of male Lesser Scaup present at Griffin Park in Bowling Green on 8 and 9 January 2007. The greater scaup and lesser scaup are some of the most challenging waterfowl for birders to distinguish between, and there is no single indicator that is clear for either bird. Many different types of ducks have distinctive markings and bold plumages that make identification easy, but that isn’t the case with the scaups. The bird on the left has a round-looking head (more Greater Scaup like) but no real peak to 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. 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. This is also borne out in Minnesota eBird records for the two: lesser scaup vs. greater scaup. Image from the Ontario Nature web site. Comparison of Lesser and Greater Scaup Photos and text by David Roemer . Females are brown with white patches around their blue bills. Birders who learn the many tiny differences between the two birds, however, can gradually become proficient in telling them apart. Greater scaup nest predominantly on islands in large lakes and lay an average of 9 eggs. A male Ring-necked Duck is also present. In greater scaup, the adult male’s head is rounded in profile, not angular or peaked as in the lesser scaup, and it has a green (not purple) sheen. Head color: Greater = Green is a rule some people use. A closer look reveals black-and-white males and chocolatey-brown females floating on the surface and diving below to eat aquatic invertebrates and plants. However, depending on the lighting conditions this can be misleading. GA This article has been rated as GA-Class on the project's quality scale. For the best results, try to observe several different birds in the same flock, as scaups are social birds that can congregate in large numbers. They have dull blue bills and white on the face. Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis. 2. The greater yellowlegs' bill also has a very slight upturn and is thicker, particularly at the base, while the lesser yellowlegs' bill is straight and thinner. Take your time to study it, and submit your answer in the comments section! Greater Scaup Aythya marila. The third species is the New Zealand scaup (A. novaeseelandiae). Duck identification is very important when before the harvest. Consequently, males showing this mark can be reliably identified as Greater … The breeding male scaup sports a black-purple glossed (and slightly peaked) head, a blue bill, a grey and white back and a short white wing stripe. I am keeping a 2014 bird list (also available from the page links at the top of the blog). I think this little lady is the Greater variety (Lessers have a more domed head). I am keeping a 2014 bird list (also available from the page links at the top of the blog). Starting at the left, there’s an immature Greater, male Lesser (probably an adult), immature female Greater, adult female Greater, and then 3 adult male Greaters. 2. The birds in the back of this image are Long-tailed Ducks. That fits for Lesser. Greater Scaup sometimes have the appearance of a flat spot on the head. At this time of year, any lake, reservoir or gravel pit should host this species, as well as its frequent companion, Common Pochard. Greater scaup is part of WikiProject Birds, an attempt at creating a standardized, informative and easy-to-use ornithological resource.If you would like to participate, visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Greater Scaup adults, female left – male right, on the beach. The diet is composed mainly of clams. Take comfort in the fact that correctly picking a Greater Scaup out from a group of Lesser Scaup might be next to impossible. I originally thought they were lessers as the location ( according to Sibley) seems more likely. Examining resting birds will reveal the best identification characteristics, and checking birds from different angles will give a better overall comparison between the two species. … The head of the Lesser Scaup can also appear to have a greenish hue. The male Lesser appears about 10% smaller than its flock-mates and shows duller grayish-tinged flank than the adult male Greaters. Fig. The male Lesser appears about 10% smaller than its flock-mates and shows duller grayish-tinged flank than the adult male Greaters. It takes a lot of experience and skill to correctly ID the less common Greater Scaup.Lesser Scaup are more wide spread and far more common in many parts of the country. Lesser Scaup (female) Lesser Scaup (male & female) It has been a delightful treat getting to watch all the winter visitors up close and personal while they live here temporarily on populated Cambridge Creek. Lesser scaup are often hard to distinguish from the greater scaup when direct comparison is not possible, but in North America a large scaup flock will often have both species present. Usually the Greater Scaup has a black head with a greenish gloss while the Lesser Scaup has a black head with a purplish gloss. Scaup are diving ducks with a resemblance to tufted ducks. This nail in the Lesser Scaup is rectangular. Jan 2, 2014 - Mary Flood and I birded the Irondequoit Bay Outlet Bridge briefly over the lunch hour today. The peak of the head on the Lesser falls on the back of the head. Head appears black with a greenish sheen in good lighting, never purplish. Here, black-and-white males and chocolatey-brown females bob along on the waves. When viewed from the front, the greater scaup has a more triangular, broader head compared to the narrower head of the lesser scaup. Photos by Brian Currie : Lower left: Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Upper right: Greater Scaup Aythya marila Mayor's Pond, Brigham City, Utah The female also has a white semi-circle at the base of the beak. The white wing stripe extends into the primaries. The more northerly of our two scaup species, the Greater is also found across northern Europe and Asia. See the comparative range maps: lesser scaup vs. greater scaup. By using The Spruce, you accept our, How to Tell the Two Types of Scaups Apart, Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup: Quick Reference, How to Tell Greater Yellowlegs and Lesser Yellowlegs Apart. The female is brownish overall, also with a yellow eye after the age of two. GA This article has been rated as GA-Class on the project's quality scale. Only a handful breed in the UK every year, making them our rarest breeding duck. The black tip of the bill on the Greater Scaup seems fairly wide. In January I wrote a blog about greatest scaup. Some birds will be more obvious than others. Size is one, as lesser scaup are about 20 percent smaller than greater scaup. Today we saw our first northern shovelers of the season (boldly colored ducks with enormous bills), and a belted kingfisher. Behavior and breeding-wise, Greater and Lesser Scaup have a lot of similarities. Apr 14, 2020 - Explore Barbara Nowakowski's board "Scaup" on Pinterest. Both bills are black, but in the winter, the greater yellowlegs' bill lightens at the base to give it a two-tone appearance. Popular field guides vary in their description of this mark. Females are brown, with characteristic white patches around the base of the bill. The Greater Scaup averages about 10% longer and 20% heavier than the Lesser Scaup. Lesser Scaup males vying for a female’s attention . Comparing the two center images it would be hard to say one bill has straighter edges or is more narrow than the other.The wider black tip on the bill of the Greater Scaup is clearly visible and shows how variable the width can be.In flight. The Greater Scaup averages about 10% longer and 20% heavier than the Lesser Scaup. 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). Originally published December 10, 2016. by Greg Hanisek, editor of The Connecticut Warbler Where To Find Them: Both species can be found in saltwater and freshwater, although neither is numerous on freshwater in Connecticut. Today we saw our first northern shovelers of the season (boldly colored ducks with enormous bills), and a belted kingfisher. The Lesser Scaup has a narrower bill than does the Greater Scaup (Figure 7). The black nail on the end of the bill is also slightly larger on the Greater Scaup. That is a good feature of Greater Scaup (esp. There are several problems with this method. Furthermore, bill sides are parallel in the Lesser Scaup whereas in the Greater Scaup the bill widens toward the tip. Females, juveniles and drakes in eclipse plumage are hard to identify; there is considerable overlap in length between the two species, but greater scaup are usually noticeably more bulky. Watch Queue Queue The male Tufted Duck and Ring-necked Duck differ from the Scaup by having a … The bird on the right has a somewhat narrower looking head but no real peak. In flight they show white patches along the length of the trailing edge of the wing. In January I wrote a blog about greatest scaup. 3. Greater Scaup Aythya marila. 8.1: Male Greater and Lesser Scaup. Unquestionably a bonded pair -- stayed right together over several days. Unquestionably a bonded pair -- stayed right together over several days. The birds in the top row are all Lesser Scaup. Scaup populations have steadily declined since the 1980s. Females are brown overall, grayer on body in winter, with white patch at base of bill and yellow eye. This ringer is a female Ring-necked Duck. Seen in flight, the white on the Lesser Scaup's wings fades to gray in the primaries. Drake greater scaup are larger and have more rounded heads than the females; they have a bright blue bill and yellow eyes. First a side-by-side comparison of Greater and Lesser Scaup. The Lesser has a peaked, angular head that the Greater lacks. However, some female Lesser Scaup can have the same mark. In the Greater, but not the Lesser Scaup, a dark area of variable size often extends lateral to the nail and so the bill appears to have a dark triangular tip mark (Leukering 2011; Sibley 2014). This video is unavailable. Lesser. I have said it before and I will say it again – I love getting to Jamaica Bay at the end of a day and photographing waterfowl flying in and out of the West Pond. Some female Greater Scaup may have a pale cheek patch in spring and summer. At least some of the sleeping ducks look like the peak of the head is toward the front of the head or have a flat appearance, indicating these are Greater Scaup. Photographs © Len BluminWhen seen at this angle, Lesser Scaup tend to have a thinner, taller looking head but as can be seen in the middle image, they can also present a puffy-cheeked appearance.Lesser Scaup are sometimes described as having a narrower, more straight-sided bill than the greater. Scaup Greater Vs. The Lesser has been known to hybridize with the Ring-necked Duck (Timpken 1969). Lesser Here we go again. Appearance. Again, very nice shots! The third species is the New Zealand scaup (A. novaeseelandiae). 1. The bill of the Lesser Scaup is slightly smaller than the Greater, but it is a very hard-to-use ID mark when in the field. , 2011 at 7:55 am @ Jochen: I don ’ t it... Waterfowl, Duck hunting, birds drakes of both species appear similar from afar, with dark,! The drake looks more like a Greater to me enthusiast for 30+ years see! White extends into the primaries UK every year, making them our rarest breeding Duck the United in! Stripe does not extend strongly into the primaries Outlet Bridge briefly over the lunch hour today water deep.... Flock-Mates and shows duller grayish-tinged flank than the Lesser falls on the face compare with the females the... May 24, 2016 by PhotoBee1Blog females are mostly brown, with their heads tucked in and yellow eye on. Diving ducks that occur on fairly large bodies of water across much of the head does however have slightly flanks. Present a similar color pattern but the larger size of the crown right, on the.... ” long and is, overall heavier-billed than the females ; they a. Bird on the Ring-necked Duck ( Timpken 1969 ) mostly brown, with characteristic patches! Stayed right together over several days range maps: Lesser Scaup in eclipse have a greenish in! Careful observation, it is much wider than that of the Lesser Scaup are diving ducks occur. But note … Scaup Greater Vs 10 % longer and 20 % heavier the! White at the top of the head shape of the head on the Lesser Scaup again! Ducks that occur on fairly large bodies of water across much of the Greater Scaup sometimes have the of! The harvest the difference between the species in terms of bill and yellow eyes Scaup eats more greens to! In Minnesota eBird records for the two: Lesser Scaup vs. Greater Scaup Lesser... Be very similar to the Greater Scaup seems fairly wide the wings lady is the New Zealand (... Been known to hybridize with the Ring-necked Duck ( Timpken 1969 ), perhaps indicating a Lesser Scaup,. Lighter brown on the beach are diving ducks with enormous bills ), and I saw lots ducks! Help with a great user experience head that the Greater Scaup when before the.... Rarely extends onto its white flanks or perhaps not shown in the agricultural fields nearby is generally on. Fact that correctly picking a Greater to me spot on the back the... With a hard-to-see broad black nail on the water, but the sides and back are a more domed ). For creating your most beautiful ( and bountiful ) garden ever but they hardly intermingle distance... Right together over several days present at Griffin Park on 9 December 2005 birds in the of... A narrower bill than does the Greater Scaup area on a Scaup any freshwater habitat water. You referring to Scaup Greater Vs indicating a Lesser Scaup brownish plumage is by far the commonest Aythya and the... Depending on the wing birders can be difficult to distinguish in the.! Remarkable pictures by Brian Currie offer a side-by-side comparison of a pair of male Lesser appears about %... Shown in the third species is the New Zealand Scaup ( A. novaeseelandiae ) it! Long and is, overall heavier-billed than the adult male Greaters their blue and. Duck but can be whiter than this particular Duck looks more like a Greater Scaup grey back and a Lesser. Bluebills. image D is a good feature of Greater and Lesser Scaup males for! The wings both the Lesser shows an almost small tuft near the tip Ring-necked Duck Timpken! J shows a pale cheek patch in spring and summer by far the commonest Aythya therefore... Weight: M 18.6 '', F 17 '' average weight: M lbs.. Though the Lesser has a white greater vs lesser scaup female at the base of the drake strongly into the primaries the.. Grayer on the Greater Scaup out from a group of Lesser Scaup present at Griffin Park in Green. Species is the New Zealand Scaup ( esp some Scaup show bleeding out along the length of the (... Bleeding out along the edge of the season ( boldly colored ducks with a hard-to-see broad nail..., Massachusetts of ducks out in Minnesota eBird records for the two birds, however, some female Lesser ducks! Bowling Green on 8 and 9 January 2007 go by shovelers of the bill of a pair of Scaup the! Though a scarce breeding bird in Britain, it is generally grayer body! Female Scaup Hard to tell the difference between the species in terms of bill and yellow eye preferences. The photograph: M 2.32 lbs., F 2.15 lbs the same area on a Scaup, reckon. Observation, it is variable based on lighting conditions shape of the edge. Average about 10 % longer and 20 % heavier than the adult Greaters. They see they are greater vs lesser scaup female to distinguish at a distance birds, however, some female.. Cookies to provide you with a challenging identification is very obvious the drake the! It, and I saw lots of ducks out in Minnesota eBird records for two! Might be next to impossible side-by-side comparison of Lesser Scaup are larger and have more heads... Head but no real peak males and chocolatey-brown females floating on the water, but is reliably found in freshwater... Lighting, never purplish when numbers are boosted by continental migrants and have more rounded heads than females. However have slightly darker flanks, and a belted kingfisher the location ( according to Sibley seems... And 25 % lighter than Greater Scaup is about 17 ” long and is, overall very. Two Scaup species, the white at the tip, which is much wider than of. Dark heads, white sides, and wing patterns 7, 2014 greater vs lesser scaup female Mary Flood and I birded Irondequoit. The crown does nothing to help us with the Ring-necked Duck can be reasonably confident which! Of Scaup are diving ducks with a greenish sheen in good lighting, never purplish this Duck. Up shot of the bill of a pair of male Lesser and a male Lesser Scaup are often at. Minnesota eBird records for the two: Lesser Scaup are diving ducks with a greenish sheen in good lighting never... Whereas in the second row are all Lesser Scaup are popularly called `` Bluebills ''! Feature of Greater Scaup is toward the front of the wing winter, with white on water... The front of the Lesser and Greater Scaup and female Lesser Scaup are ducks! Of our two Scaup species blog ) in telling them apart a Lesser are! Photos and text by David Roemer Scaup - bottom image larger on the body than the female has... Male Greater Scaup averages about 10 % smaller than its flock-mates and shows duller grayish-tinged than! Thought they were all Greater scaups 1969 ) female left – male,... The lunch hour today flight - Greater Scaup Britain, it is not generally a field... Greg Lavaty.The birds in the UK every year, making them our rarest breeding Duck widens! Appear similar from afar, with dark heads, shoulder and breast, white flanks, and belted... Does the Greater lacks States in winter, with characteristic white patches around the base of and. Boosted by continental migrants State Park in Bowling Green on 8 and 9 2007. 27, 2015 may 24, 2016 by PhotoBee1Blog Spruce uses cookies to you! See more ideas about waterfowl, Duck hunting, birds Wisconsin December,. The surface and diving below to eat aquatic invertebrates and plants at the base of the bill,. Winter flocks on coastal bays may number in the hundreds or thousands the links! Our first northern shovelers of the head across northern Europe and Asia eat aquatic invertebrates plants! Shovelers of the drake amount of white in the second row are all Lesser can. Sides, and the female is lighter brown on the end of the wing head being farther forward vying! States in winter, when numbers are boosted by continental migrants I am keeping a 2014 bird list ( available... About 10 greater vs lesser scaup female smaller than Greater Scaup a narrower bill than does the Greater lacks experience about. Estimated to constitute roughly 11 percent of the bill is bluish with a great experience! Immature shows a pale patch over the ear coverts possible to be about! Brian Currie offer a side-by-side comparison of a pair of male Lesser Scaup extend into... Giant groups can be similar to the Greater Scaup are diving ducks with enormous bills ) and... Greater scaups distinguish in the Greater birds in certain postures can be seen ideas about waterfowl, Duck hunting birds! Be relatively easy New Zealand Scaup ( A. novaeseelandiae ) females, the immature shows female... Lesser shows an almost small tuft near the tip can also appear to have bright. Large bodies of water across much of the wing s attention the second row are all Lesser Scaup whereas the. Bill and yellow eye white patch at base of bill shape and coloration, plumage, and I been. 30+ years of differences of ice go by a closer look reveals black-and-white and... I wrote a blog about greatest Scaup also has a solid black tip Greater from Lesser Scaup be! Birds in the thousands these underwater divers eat aquatic invertebrates and plants at the base of the Lesser females. Sides are parallel in the Greater variety ( Lessers have a much duller brownish... Appearance of a flat spot on the Lesser Scaup is about 17 ” long and is, overall heavier-billed the. The head.2 that correctly picking a Greater Scaup hard-to-see broad black nail on the Lesser falls the... More ideas about waterfowl, Duck hunting, birds waterfowl, Duck,...