Mini-Tutorial: Two Scaup and the Ring-necked Duck

Mini-tutorial featuring three ducks, the Ring-necked Duck, the Lesser Scaup, and the rarer Greater Scaup. Here during migration and sometimes over winter, these birds are of the same genus and have similar appearances, but their bills, plumage, and other features distinguish them. One tip: don't look for the ringed neck of the Ring-necked Duck. Another tip: note where the peak of the crown of their head lies, further back or close to the bill. A good challenge for your birding skill. Presented by Denis Kania.

[TomReichner]

Every day I go out birding I am seeing lots and lots of Greater Scaup, and still have not seen a Lesser Scaup yet this year. I want so badly for one of these Scaup I am seeing to be a Lesser, so I can gain another species for the year, so I came here hoping agains hope to learn of some ID characteristic that would mean that one of the Scaup I've seen is actually a Lesser but no luck. Everything you detail here just confirms that yes, they have all been Greaters. Oh well, I'll get back to the marsh again tomorrow, hoping against hope that some of them will be lessers.

[carolcomeau]

Excellent! Thank you for this very clear explanation

[UncleDonDon]

I have a lesser drake show up on my pond, 3/6/22, in the low country of SC 29431.
He's hanging out with my Muscovy ducks