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])
>
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