Scaup (1 Viewer)

[Atomsplitter]

Would like some help with these scaup. Ignoring the Ring-necked duck and the American wigeon in the pictures. Is the female scaup a Greater scaup? Pictures taken today in Indiana.

Thanks.

 

[lou salomon]

since the three males are all Lesser Scaup I think the female is too. But hard with the head shape on these pics.

 

[Butty]

Nothing obviously greater scaup about it. What suggests to you that it is one?

 

[Indobirder]

I would lean toward Greater, but it's tough with these photos.

Why?
1) bill appears larger than those of the lesser & has a larger black nail, and a significant amount of white at the base
2) head shape looks ok for greater*

*I'm not saying it's outside the variation/postures of lesser, just that it's within that of greater imo.

 

[Atomsplitter]

Thanks for the replies and for the question Butty.

Head appears rounded and not domed/peaked like the male Lesser Scaups in the pictures. Also the bill appears larger than the nearby lesser. Might be a perspective thing though. I tried to get different angles of the head. Resolution isnt great in these pictures. I was hoping someone with more experience with this species could decipher the pictures better than me.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

I get a lesser scaup feel, but thats no definite ID with these photos ( no offence meant)