Vernon, B.C. Canada April 9 / 23 (1 Viewer)

[Loutsy]

Hi - Would appreciate it if someone could confirm this is a Greater Scaup (vs. a Lesser Scaup). Not a great photo, but hope this is sufficient. Spotted April 9, 2023 in Vernon, B.C.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[KenM]

I’m getting a “Lesser feel” for this, the shading on the white sides which is just discernible on your image, also the extent of the grey going back on the upper-parts also the almost white lozenge shape to the rear side…but wait for others.

Cheers

 

[nartreb]

I don't think this can be identified with any confidence. If pressed, I'd say Greater, due to relatively clean white flank contrasting clearly with back. Head position not helpful, but what we can see is consistent with a round head - no hint of the peak that a Lesser might show at this angle, but that's a huge stretch from this photo. Again, I'd personally leave it as "scaup, species unknown."

Edit: maybe it's possible to get a hint from migration timing and/or routes. My (somewhat dated) book says you should see Lesser year-round, and you're just a bit north of winter range for Greater (and way, way south of Greater's summer range). So any Greater you see this time of year is probably on migration, and you might be able to check ebird (or your nearest banding project) to double-check where they're coming from and what dates they normally pass through.

 

[Butty]

Maybe greater scaup from the bill size, but I don't think there's anything else safely discernible in this photo that could identify it. The head position is impossible for ID by head-shape, and the photo quality is much too low (no offence) to see any upperparts plumage-pattern detail. Do you have other photos, especially with head side-on?

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

If no other photos available, it should be left unidentified.

 

[Loutsy]

Maybe greater scaup from the bill size, but I don't think there's anything else safely discernible in this photo that could identify it. The head position is impossible for ID by head-shape, and the photo quality is much too low (no offence) to see any upperparts plumage-pattern detail. Do you have other photos, especially with head side-on?

No, unfortunately that was a close as I could get with 300mm lens.

 

[Butty]

The request for more photos wasn't about the distance/quality as much as the angle of the head to the camera: a more side-on head, even if low quality, could be much better for ID.