Date:         Tue, 1 Apr 2003 11:11:58 -0500
Reply-To:     Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       Maryland Birds & Birding <MDOSPREY@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         "dw.holmes" <dw.holmes@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re Scaup ID
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Thought this might be timely -=20

Posted on OBOL (Oregon Birders On Line) today by Mike Denny


"Sometime ago I had an outstanding discussion with a well known western =
ornithologist concerning female scaup and how to separate the three =
species in the field. His points are as follows:

Greater-----The female is larger and more robust than say a female =
bufflehead. The overall head shape including the residual crest is much =
rounder than say a post ocular spot in front of a female black-chinned =
hummingbirds eye. Last but not least is the zygodactyl placement of the =
toes on birds hatched north of the Peace River in Canada.=20

Cordilleran-----This female is virtually identical in every way to the =
female Greater say for the spastic pre-flight tail twitch duly noted by =
Nedly & Epert 1986. There can also be some noticeable discoloration =
along the ventral line due to this species propensity for turning on its =
flanks to preen while setting on sewage lagoons.

Lesser----This species was recently found to be a cavity nester and the =
notable process on the posterior surface of the skull was discovered to =
allow the bird to place its head into the nest chamber and push up while =
turning its eggs with the right foot, thus it can retain its balance =
while perched on the lip of the cavity. Eye color is also a reliable =
indicator of age in this gender. Hatched with very dark irises these =
birds lighten up with age.

Well that is it for now. Just thought you might want to know this on =
this first day of April."


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