Question about ducks! (1 Viewer)

All photos from west coast Norway:

(1) I believe these to be wigeons. A little bit unsure since I can't see ant yellow band on the head of the male one. But it's maybe not suppoed to go that far back as to be visible from behind? And the female ones looks also "duller" than the drawings in my book. But I can't see what else it would be. (nov. 2013)

(2) This one confuses me also. At first I thought of the common eide because of the head. But colours doesn't fit in. Looking in my book, it sort of looks like a juvenile/female common scotor. But the three coloured (black, brown and white) head doesn't really fit. It is a poor photo. So I might be just stupid here! (nov 2013)

(3) Not the best of photo this either. But among this flock of mallards, there is one bird swimming to the right side of the photo which looks a bit off. Can anyone see which one that is? (sept. 2013)

(4) Is this a female mallard or a male eclipse one? Or something else? (july. 2013)

(5) Very poor photo (again) but what are these? (julu 2013)

Thanks!

1 Wigeon
2 female Common Scoter (the face often looks that pale)
3 the result of some cross breeding with domesticated/farmyard duck
4 as 3
5 eclipse drake Mallards

Thanks!

How sure are you about the common scoter? That one is actually new on my list...

EdvardH said:

Thanks!

How sure are you about the common scoter? That one is actually new on my list...

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yes, 2 is a female type common scoter.

I thought they were Scoter as well Ed. Definitely not Eider.

Rich

#2 looks like female black scoter (also known as American scoter) that I see in Eastern USA, is that the equivalent of common scoter?

tom baxter said:

#2 looks like female black scoter (also known as American scoter) that I see in Eastern USA, is that the equivalent of common scoter?

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Different kind according to my book. Melanitta americana vs Melanitta nigra. americana is only a rare visitor to Norway, so much less likely.

Thanks folks! Good to have the confirmation!

tom baxter said:

#2 looks like female black scoter (also known as American scoter) that I see in Eastern USA, is that the equivalent of common scoter?

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no, they're two different species