Fresh water birds (1 Viewer)

mdmoshier · Dec 29, 2006

I saw these 2 birds from a distance this AM at Lake Henessee which is a fresh water lake just north of Napa, California. Sorry for the blurry pictures but it was overcast and at a distance. The first bird is a Scaup and probably a lesser because it is in fresh water.

The second is possibly a black scoter?

Any thoughts? (besides get a better picture. I thought of that one already)

marklhawkes · Dec 29, 2006

First two are male Lesser Scaups

Second two are winter plumaged male Ruddy Duck

dan pointon · Dec 29, 2006

Definitely Ruddy Duck, are you sure the Scaup isn't Greater?

marklhawkes · Dec 29, 2006

dan pointon said:
Definitely Ruddy Duck, are you sure the Scaup isn't Greater?

Black on bill tip restricted to nail only = Lesser Scaup. Also, small, slightly peaked head.

J Jones · Dec 29, 2006

I'm finding it hard to tell which species of scaup from the available images....

EDIT: in response to what Mark says about the nail, I can't actually tell the extent of this feature from the images. I do agree about the small-looking heads though.

Fresh water birds (1 Viewer)

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