What Are These Two Ducks? (1 Viewer)

[Maryland Flicker]

I have my idea on what these two ducks are, but I won't say so as to avoid influencing anyone's opinion. The photo was taken at a fresh water lake in Maryland, USA.

No worries about the American Coot in the middle.

I've cropped one of the photos.

Thanks.

 

[jsbirdy08]

The ducks that are colored black, white and gray appear to be Lesser Scaups. They have the slight bump on their heads unlike the perfectly rounded head of a Greater Scaup. The others might be Ring-necked Ducks because of the white rings around the bill but I am not certain. Might want to check in on that because I could be wrong. I am kind of new at this bird watching/identifying stuff.

 

[GTeig]

They look like Ring-necked Ducks to me with the white crescent between the black breast and the gray sides.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Agreed. They all look like ring-necks.

 

[Maryland Flicker]

Thanks for the responses.

I want to clear up some possible confusion. Obviously, most of the ducks in the more zoomed out picture are Ring-necked Ducks, but I'm referring to the two I've cropped (I provided the bigger picture in case you wanted to zoom in yourself).

I've included another picture of a side-by-side comparison. The duck on the left is the familiar Ring-necked Duck. The duck on the right is the one in question. The white crescent you guys pointed out is obvious in the Ring-necked Duck, but just about non-existent in the other.

I'm just gonna go ahead and say that I think its a scaup, and that I'm leaning towards Greater Scaup because of the point on the head being more forward, as opposed to the point being more to the rear on a Lesser Scaup.

This is just my opinion. I'm still interested in what others think. Thanks.

 

[lostinjapan]

Have you considered female Redhead?

I am not saying it is, difficult to say on the pics you provided, but the bill doesn't look right for either Scaup species.

Take a look at these pics:

http://www.critterzone.com/gallery/imagesource/BFJbd123004_5.htm

http://www.pbase.com/syrcam/image/58475694

Sean