Bird at Rutland (1 Viewer)

BrianWH

Sparrowhawk

• Nov 23, 2013

• #1

I am not sure what this bird is, can someone assist please?

 

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lee_hesp

Well-known member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #2

Looks very much like a female scaup

 

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Steve Lister

Senior Birder, ex County Recorder, Garden Moths.

• Nov 23, 2013

• #3

Tufted Duck

 

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Chris_D

Well-known member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #4

Tufted, scaup would have white at the base of the bill

 

BrianWH

Sparrowhawk

• Nov 23, 2013

• #5

Chris_D said:

Tufted, scaup would have white at the base of the bill

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The female doesn't have that surely and the tail is more like a Scaup?

 

john miller

Well-known member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #6

BrianWH said:

The female doesn't have that surely and the tail is more like a Scaup?

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Fem Scaup has white at the base of the bill, it also has a small black nail at the tip of the bill, this bird has a large area of black

John
www.kellingnature.zenfolio.com

 

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Chris_D

Well-known member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #7

Tufted can also have a pale under tail occasionally. Jane's sticky index at the top of the identification forum has some good examples of hybrids and problem birds.

 

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ChrisBish

Well-known member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #8

Agree that this is a Tufted Duck. The large amount of black on the nail (at the tip of the bill) is a more reliable feature than white at the base of the bill which. although a feature of female Scaup, can also be present in female Tufted Duck.

 

BrianWH

Sparrowhawk

• Nov 23, 2013

• #9

Chris_D said:

Tufted can also have a pale under tail occasionally. Jane's sticky index at the top of the identification forum has some good examples of hybrids and problem birds.

Click to expand...

Thanks all, I agree it is very confusing to us novices.