ML610059732

Observation details

Continuing Aythya found by Ben Peters. Nice study comparing with adjacent RNDU despite the short time I could stay and lack of light. The little topknot is somewhat inconspicuous but forms a tall crest when raised. This incorporates a dense tract of feathers at the top of the crown and drastically changes the bird’s profile as it flattens the crown before diving (video). The auricular areas have a greenish sheen, but the crest, nape, and lower neck are a messy, waterlogged brown. Black on bill is restricted to the nail, with a white halo separating it from the pastel gray-blue of the remaining length. Bill is slightly more spatulate than that of RNDU, and as a side effect of its paleness the nostrils are very noticeable. The dark bib bleeds a bit farther onto the flanks and breast than on RNDU. The mantle is intricately vermiculated between patches of brown, but this is hard to tell from a distance. See video for head bobs - I’ve seen scaup do this before but not sure if RNDU do.