ML521368671

Age and sex

Adult Male - 1

Observation details

***very rare; continuing adult male. First state eBird record for this hybrid. Noticeable but limited tuft, slate gray back that contrasted with the black breast, pure white flanks. Overall the head shape seems closer to Greater Scaup than it does to Lesser Scaup. The head seems bulkier and longer rather than thinner and taller. This on its own, in my opinion, is not enough to identify the scaup species in hybrids that involve GRSC/LESC due to the influence of the other species’ head shape (in this case Tufted Duck). However, in Aythya hybrids involving GRSC/LESC, the coloration of the flight feathers of the scaup parent seems to consistently shine through, so I arrived here with the goal of getting spread-wing photographs and thankfully I succeeded. On this individual, the white extends extremely far into the primaries leaving only the outermost ~2-3 primaries completely devoid of white. This gradient from white into gray is completely unlike the contrast between the white secondaries and gray primaries seen in LESC and hybrids with LESC. Compare with following: TUDU x LESC - ML215226591, ML220692361 TUDU x GRSC - ML216606521 RNDU x LESC - ML217821831, ML57709501 It has been observed in other Tufted Duck x Greater Scaup hybrids that the secondaries slowly transition into the whitish-gray of the primaries rather than sharply contrasting with the primaries like on Lesser Scaup (“Mitteilungen der Avifaunistischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft,” 2012). In Gillham, Harrison, and Harrison (n.d.), the “speculum” of Tufted Duck x Greater Scaup is described as “white, extending on to the innermost primaries and edged with dark sepia.” While literature on hybrids is limited, these descriptions seem to match this individual. I have not been able to find descriptions of Tufted Duck x Lesser Scaup, but given all of the above evidence I believe that option can be eliminated. Overall this seems like a slam dunk for Tufted Duck x Greater Scaup. It’s also worth noting that the bird is with a flock of Greater Scaups rather than Lesser Scaups, which obviously doesn’t eliminate Lesser Scaup as a parent but may add to the bigger picture of this bird’s identification. Citations: Gillham, E., Harrison, J.M., and Harrison, J.G. (n.d.). A study of certain Aythya hybrids. 54. https://wildfowl.wwt.org.uk/index.php/wildfowl/article/viewFile/300/300 Mitteilungen der Avifaunistischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Südostniedersachsen – AviSON im NABU-Landesverband Niedersachsen. (2012). AVES Braunschweig 3, (2190-3808), 35. http://niedersachsen.nabu.de/imperia/md/content/niedersachsen/fachgruppen/148_aves_3_binder-1807.pdf.pdf

Technical information

Dimensions

1871 pixels x 1247 pixels

Original file size

1.11 MB