Translate

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

SCAUPS, WEST LAKE, EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FL

   These photos show a large group of male and female scaups.  It is difficult to differentiate between Greater Scaups and Lesser Scaups, however we believe these scaups are probably Lesser Scaups for the following reasons:
  • This is a freshwater lake and generally Lesser Scaups like freshwater lakes, while Greater Scaups like saltwater marine environments.  But you do find each in the others environment.
  • The black of the nail (a bump) at the end of the upper mandible of the bill seems to be confined to the nail, rather than extending past it, as in the Greater Scaup.
  • Where you can view the scaup in profile, you can see a notch toward the back of the head  This is a field mark of the Lesser Scaup.







No comments:

Post a Comment