Female Scaup? UK July15 (1 Viewer)

[MTem]

Another from Gallery, also with the OP's permission.
He posted this photo a few weeks ago as a female Tufted duck

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/546796

This first photo shows only the head and neck as the bird emerges from the pondweed. I commented that I thought it looked more like a female Scaup - bill pattern, head shape, no tuft, pale cheek patch. He since posted two more photos of the same bird (it had young)

http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/547179
http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/547180

Here the bill tip is smudged with some mud, and in the first the body colour looks too red-brown and plain to be a pure female Scaup, but equally it isn't a pure female Tufted duck either to me.

Another Aythya hybrid? Any views on which one?

Also taken a Slimbridge WWT in July 15.

Mick

 

[KGS]

Certainly looks like a Tufted duck to me

 

[MTem]

Well I have come to respect your opinion KGS .... but really? Pure-bred Tufted?
With that black nail only, no tuft that I can see, etc.

I'll get the humble pie on to warm ......
Getting used to the taste recently.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Must admit I don't see any problem at all for a normal Tufted Duck.

 

[KGS]

Well I have come to respect your opinion KGS .... but really? Pure-bred Tufted?
With that black nail only, no tuft that I can see, etc.

I'll get the humble pie on to warm ......
Getting used to the taste recently.

Rather short bill, all dark cheeks & quite extensive black at tip of bill. Looks OK for me.

 

[MTem]

OK I'm getting the knife and fork and laying the table ..... but you do both see that it is only the nail that's black on the bill - it looks like mud on the side of the tip, not black colouration.

I guess the rounded head could be that the tuft is flattened by the recent dive.


Ah well that's why I spend time on here.

 

[MTem]

Anyone else before I tuck into my humble pie?

 

[Andy Hurley]

The wing colour is dark brown, more in line with Tuftie than either Scaup, I think.

PS, no need for humble pie. We all learn from other people's experiences and knowledge. That what's this forum is for, after all.