ID bird help (Lake Elizabeth, Fremont, CA, USA) 1/18/24 (1 Viewer)

[Valefor]

Here's some birds I found in California. I was told these were ruddy ducks and great tail grackles. For both, is there a way to tell if it's female or immature male? Thanks!

 

[Butty]

I was told these were ruddy ducks and great tail grackles.

Yes.

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Agreed.

 

[rkj]

To access the ages of the birds, we would need to know the dates of the photos.

 

[Valefor]

To access the ages of the birds, we would need to know the dates of the photos.

It's in the title, the photos were taken at 1/18/24

 

[rkj]

Sorry, I am not sure what happened. I thought I had deleted my draft when I looked again at the title, but I must have posted it instead.
At this point in the winter, I think a young male Ruddy Duck would be starting to show some signs of its gender, so I think your bird is likely a female. Juvenile Great-tailed Grackles tend to look messier on the breast, so I think that is a female too.

 

[Valefor]

Ok, I'll take note of these observations. Thank you everyone!