ML643755359

Observation details

Pics of 2 different birds: one is the female-type with faint ear patch who may have been here for about a week. Almost no one has gotten diagnostic pics of it. The pics here show her in same frame with obviously smaller Lessers, rounded crown, tan eye, bill that seems to flare widely just proximal to tip more than in most Lessers, wider "cheeks" in rear profile than in Lessers--I'd argue the nail is not obviously wider in my pics but maybe it is but that is very hard to determine. The other bird has darker brown-black head overall with yellowish eye, less of an auricular patch, but rounded head, clearly bigger than adjacent Lessers, bill flaring proximal tip and same issue with nail--might be bigger but really hard to be sure. I hung with both birds for about 20 minutes and neither ever stretched wing so could not see extent of white in primaries. Given the direct comparisons with Lessers, I feel confident these are Greaters but I would like to see wing and also would like if other observers got pics to support their conclusions. It is hard to determine true status and numbers at this site when so many observers make identification errors (both reporting when the species is not there and missing them when they are there). It is also important to note how the body size and the head shape when the birds are actively diving. Greaters can look a lot smaller-bodied when they are riding low in water during diving episodes and their head shape looks different when crown is flattened during diving episodes. This also then makes the bill look proportionately bigger. So it is important to wait until foraging stops to be sure the normal posture and head shape are presented to the observer.