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Greater or Lesser Scaup (1 Viewer)

sirijay

Well-known member
Took this photo in California. Cannot figure out whether its a greater or lesser.
Help with ID and the particulars about the ID are truly appreciated.
 

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I'll dare to be different, Lesser for me - almost no black on 'nail' at tip of smallish-looking bill, and coarse vermiculation on back. The colour of the head sheen is variable with angle of light, so isn't reliable with a single pic.
 
I'll dare to be different, Lesser for me - almost no black on 'nail' at tip of smallish-looking bill, and coarse vermiculation on back. The colour of the head sheen is variable with angle of light, so isn't reliable with a single pic.

No protrusion at the back of head that I can make out, head shape seems all wrong to me, sticking with Greater



A
 
Here is a second photo of the same bird (Scaup-B). Wonder whether this will help any more with ID. You can see the "nail" better and the sheen appears to be greenish. Thanks again.
 

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Absolutely a Greater for me – the second photo shows the nail broadening somewhat at the tip, rather than being a narrow rectangle as on a Lesser.
 
I sometimes find these N American Greaters confusingly similar to Lessers, in photos. I also found the vermiculations quite coarse, so i did a quick Google and apparently the N American ssp has coarser vermiculations, at least according to wikipedia. Think i read somewhere (i think here on BF) that that ssp is a bit smaller too, which might explain why this one looks a bit cutesy.
 
I sometimes find these N American Greaters confusingly similar to Lessers, in photos. I also found the vermiculations quite coarse, so i did a quick Google and apparently the N American ssp has coarser vermiculations, at least according to wikipedia. Think i read somewhere (i think here on BF) that that ssp is a bit smaller too, which might explain why this one looks a bit cutesy.

Useful to know, thanks! Here's a European subspecies Greater Scaup, note the much less 'contrasty' vermiculation (oh, and the purple head gloss, too 3:)) :t:
 

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I also found the vermiculations quite coarse, so i did a quick Google and apparently the N American ssp has coarser vermiculations, at least according to wikipedia.

Interesting. Has the North American ssp ever been identified in the UK? Surely it must occur?
 
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