Greater Scaup - Poland (2 Viewers)

[AGDK]

Hello

I just saw this duck tonight in the local harbour area with Tufted ducks.. To me it appeared different the other male of Tufted duck, and to me it looks like a Greater Scaup, but Tufted Duck vs Greater Scaups in their eclipse is not my strong side of experience, since Greater Scaup is usual only in the area from September to April and pretty rare during summer..

I don't see any sign on the feathers in the neck as the Tufted has, but I don't know if it can loose those as well during the eclipse period?

Thanks for any input..

 

[THE_FERN]

I'm unsure. Head profile and eye placement seem correct for scaup to me. We expect a light grey vermiculated back which doesn't appear here (seems more like dark = tufted's) but I think this is due to the camera angle and we're not getting a true impression. Only a small black bill nail (scaup). But perhaps the dark rear does extend too far up the back (i.e. more like tufted). Again, camera angle is wrong to assess compactness of body—scaup should appear more elongate, drawn out. On balance I think probably scaup.

 

[Indobirder]

Just a gut feeling, but the first image shows a head that doesn't look like a Scaup. Too squared

 

[AGDK]

Thanks for your replies so far.. I have more pictures, also seen more from the side, but in worse quality and from bigger distance.. I can try to upload them tonight when I come home and maybe they can help better for the overall jizz..

 

[AGDK]

After checking at home, I see know that it's clearly a Tufted Duck, since it has dark back on some of the pictures I got on a far distance.. So case closed!

Thanks for the hints!