On November 30, 2019 I did a post on the greater scaup, a bird I'd seen at Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. When I joined iNaturalist some time later I submitted photos of those birds and was informed by a number of identifiers that the birds were actually lesser scaup.
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Note the green sheen on the head of the male to the left and the yellow eyes of the females in the middle. They are greater scaup. |
Several weeks ago I was at the Salton Sea SRA and got photos of birds I submitted to iNaturalist as lesser scaup (see above). Again I was wrong, identifiers came back with the identification of greater scaup.
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These males, photos taken last Saturday, have a greenish sheen on the back of their heads and are greater scaup. |
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This female has an amber iris, rather than a yellow iris, and I believe is a lesser scaup. |
I've decided I need to learn the difference. The male lesser scaup has a purple sheen on its neck and the female has an amber iris. The male greater scaup has a green sheen on its neck and the female has a yellow iris.
At least you were consistent in being wrong both times.
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