Garganey or Green-winged Teal (1 Viewer)

[jmepler]

This bird was seen recently in Pennsylvania and it's species is being debated. What do you think, Garganey or Green-winged Teal? There are individuals firmly in both camps.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S155544846

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

I would very much say this is not a Garganey. The shape, white line on the side of the tail and the wing pattern all look very off to me. Apart from the rather striped head, it looks much more like a Green-winged Teal.

 

[qwerty5]

I think I see a streaked throat?

I think it's safe to say that some people are going to be strongly biased toward Garganey given the rarity.

 

[wheatearlp]

I would agree with Andrew. Whilst the strong face pattern would warrant a second (or third) look, the white line/stripe along the side of the tail, small neat bill & the upperwing pattern all point towards GWT. Also, the chin/throat area seems mottled/streaked rather than cleaner white that would be expected for Garganey.

 

[THE_FERN]

I can't make it into a garganey. The pale spot near the base of the bill's missing. Apart from a stripey head, everything else says teal

 

[Butty]

it's species is being debated

Can't think why. Some people think it's an aberrant garganey with a green-winged teal's wing-pattern? Odd view.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Something for North American birders to keep in mind is that female-type Garganey are much more similar to female-type Blue-winged Teals than Green-winged Teals. If we're looking for BWT in Europe, we have to rule out Garganey much more carefully than Eurasian Teal. Could you confuse the bird under discussion for a Blue-winged Teal? If not, then it probably isn't a Garganey.

 

[jmepler]

The vast majority of opinions (mine included) were that the bird was an odd Green-winged Teal. There are a few people that saw the bird that are still insistent that it was a Garganey. This is probably influence somewhat by the desire to find something rare.

I knew that there would be people here with much more experience with Garganey. Thanks for the input.