Ring-Necked Duck, Black Phoebe, and ??? (Redding, CA, USA) (1 Viewer)

[CalvinFold]

A mix of "I think I know" and "I really don't know" photos.

We were some 200 miles away from our usual spots, so don't want to take for granted what I "know" (and I use that term loosely where bird IDs are concerned!).

1. Ring-Necked Duck?
2. Ring-Necked Duck?
3. I have no idea. Please ID the foreground and background ducks.
4. Also no idea.
5. Black Phoebe?

THANKS as always!

 

[nartreb]

1. yep
2. yep
3. Barrow's Goldeneye male, and female Bufflehead
4. female Bufflehead
5. yep

 

[CalvinFold]

Bufflehead females, rare spot for us, we see only males near home.

Barrow's Goldeneye, that's new for us.

We actually quite enjoyed our time in Redding, the trails are excellent and we got lucky and saw the results of the big release from Shasta Dam. Deep and wide Sacramento River!

THANKS for the IDs!

 

[howiewu]

Are we sure 3 is Barrow's and not Common Goldeneye?

 

[nartreb]

Barrow's is not a local bird for me, but my sources say Common has a much smaller white spot on the face. C.f. http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=339060

You can also see thick black markings on the shoulder, just like the foreground birds in the top photo here:
http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Barrow's_Goldeneye
(c.f. the mostly-white shoulders of the two Common in the back of that photo)

 

[howiewu]

I think head and bill shape point to Common.

 

[Kratter]

It is a Barrow's Goldeneye. The long crescent shaped white spot and the dark flanks to the waterline are diagnostic for Barrow's The head shape and bill size look a bit off because it looks like it just surfaced and the head plumage is slicked down by water.

Andy

 

[Jeff Hopkins]

Agree with Barrow's. Common would have just a circular white spot on the face.