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Re: Tufted Duck - Cambridge - Choptank River , 1/6/09

From:

Nancy Martin

Reply-To:

Nancy Martin

Date:

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 18:01:44 -0500

Hi All,

Jim is right that carefully taken notes or photos will be of great value 
in ruling out all possible hybrid combinations. Documented hybrids exist 
for Ring-necked and Lesser Scaup (possible contender for Tufted Duck ID 
although a tuft would be lacking), Tufted and Greater Scaup, Tufted and 
Lesser Scaup, and Ring-necked and Tufted.

I must however point out that some green reflection on a predominantly 
purple head is not necessarily a sign of hybridization. Iridescent 
feathers have no pigment, they are black feathers whose structure 
reflects light in certain wavelengths. Heads that predominantly reflect 
green wavelengths can occasionally reflect in violet to purple (look 
carefully at male Mallards or Wood Ducks in bright sunlight), and heads 
that usually reflect purple to violet can show occasional flashes of 
dark green at some light angles (carefully watch a Lesser Scaup or 
Ring-neck in bright sun).

The other characters Jim cited are very useful for interpreting hybrids. 
Notes on iridescence should describe the intensity of reflected color 
and what the predominant (and if possible the minor) reflected color is 
on the bird.

Good birding,

Walter Ellison

23460 Clarissa Rd
Chestertown, MD 21620

410-778-9568

Observing Nature is like unwrapping a big pile of presents every time 
you take a walk.



Jim Stasz wrote:
>  
> Hi Folks!
>  
> Just a word of caution: Hybrid. There are documented Tufted Duck X Lesser  
> Scaup. Is the back a solid black without vermiculations? Is the dark tip of the  
> bill wider than deep? Is the head sheen always purple and never green? Is 
> there  a distinct white line at the rear edge of the dark bill tip? A GOOD SERIES 
> OF  PHOTOS WILL BE NEEDED.
>  
> Good Birding!
>  
> Jim
>  
> Jim Stasz
> North Beach MD
>  (mailto:[log in to unmask]) 
>
> **************New year...new news.  Be the first to know what is making 
> headlines. (http://www.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000026)
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>
>