• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Tufted Duck x Scaup Hybrid? And an unknown gull. Rhode Island, USA (2 Viewers)

Parrots

Member
United States
Hi. I came across some birds I wasn't sure about yesterday. Scanning a pack of Scaup, I noticed one bird that had a tufted head appearing peaked at the back (in the center below):

IMG_4912.jpgMore 1.jpgMore 3.jpg

Possibly the same bird (there was also a Ring-necked Duck around):
More 6.jpg

A female that stood out in the Scaup flock for having very minimal white above its bill (visible in first picture) -- not sure if this is regular for juvenile Scaup or an indication of a different species / hybrid:
Female2.jpgFemale1.jpgFemale3.jpg

Earlier in the day, I spotted a gull that looked darker than a Herring Gull with heavy facial streaking, making me think of Lesser Black-backed. A more experienced birder in the same spot thought it looked odd, a bit lighter than Lesser-black Backed, and mentioned the possibility of a Herring hybrid. Tried to take some pictures through my scope:

1.jpgIMG_4826.jpgIMG_4831.jpgIMG_4834.jpgIMG_4843.jpgIMG_4849.jpgIMG_4851.jpgIMG_4854.jpgIMG_4864.jpg

Sibley mentions a Siberian subspecies of Herring with a darker mantle, but notes that it's restricted to Alaska. I could also be overthinking this one (if the mantle color is within normal range for Herring rather than a hybrid / Lesser Black-backed) as a beginner.

Thanks again for the help! Had a great time.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4846.jpg
    IMG_4846.jpg
    311.5 KB · Views: 13
  • IMG_4850.jpg
    IMG_4850.jpg
    297 KB · Views: 39
Last edited:
I've attached some more pictures of the duck. The mantle appears a darker gray than those of the surrounding Scaup, but not pure black like Tufted Duck. The shape of the tuft almost looks similar to a picture midway down this page on Tufted Duck x Scaup hybrids.
 
well one of the ducks is a ringneck (peaked head and flaks white to the front), the other with the short tuft looks like a hybrid Tufted x Scaup. The scaup appear to be Greater scaup
 
well one of the ducks is a ringneck (peaked head and flaks white to the front), the other with the short tuft looks like a hybrid Tufted x Scaup. The scaup appear to be Greater scaup
Thanks for the help. Looking over the pictures again, I spotted a female with very minimal white above the bill (attached in the main post above). Could this indicate Tufted Duck involvement, or is the white variable across Scaup? My field guide shows more white in juvenile Scaup, but I see a picture here of a Lesser Scaup with little white above the bill (still more than this individual).
 
Warning! This thread is more than 3 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top