Re:[cayugabirds-l] Tufted Duck i.d. help

[Dave Nutter]

Carol (& all),
Male Tufted Duck in breeding plumage is an easy ID: The SIDE IS BOLD PURE WHITE 
in sharp contrast to the surrounding black everywhere else, in particular the 
BLACK BACK, but also the black fore and aft ends, the neck and the entire head. 
It is far whiter than the gray sides of the black-backed Ring-necked Duck, 
whiter than most Scaups which can be dingy on the sides and are pale gray on 
the back. It can be picked out at quite a distance. The problem is picking it 
out among thousands of Redheads and other Aythya ducks especially if they are 
all repeatedly diving or there are waves or heat shimmer. The top of the head 
of a sleeping Tufted Duck is pointy. The tuft, like a loose ponytail extending 
back off the top of the crown, is fun, but can be surprisingly hard to see 
because it is very flexible and flops down when the bird is sleeping, and it 
can catch in the wind and blow to odd angles or spread out. There is just the 
one bird, and this is the winter that presumably the same individual has joined 
the many thousand Redheads here at the south end of Cayuga Lake.

Check out the photos attached to Livia Santana's eBird report. The bird stands 
out like a black-and-white image badly photoshopped into a scene of muted tones:

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) (1)
- Reported Jan 17, 2015 14:48 by Livia Santana
- South End--845 Taughannock Boulevard, Tompkins, New York
- Map: 
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=42.46371,-76.52346&ll=42.46371,-76.52346
- Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S21394121
- Comments: "****Extremely rare, third Basin record. Adult male out in Redhead 
flock, found by Dave Nutter. Brilliant white sides, black back, head, and 
chest, long ragged tuft often blowing in wind.
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaymcgowan/16119029917"; title="Tufted 
Duck by Jay McGowan, on Flickr"><img 
src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7461/16119029917_7bb85ae8fd_z.jpg"; 
alt="Tufted Duck" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaymcgowan/15684999093"; title="Tufted 
Duck by Jay McGowan, on Flickr"><img 
src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8590/15684999093_5e395c4aba_z.jpg"; 
alt="Tufted Duck" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaymcgowan/16303087891"; title="Tufted 
Duck by Jay McGowan, on Flickr"><img 
src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8565/16303087891_580605025c_o.jpg"; 
alt="Tufted Duck" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaymcgowan/16118719139"; title="Tufted 
Duck by Jay McGowan, on Flickr"><img 
src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7465/16118719139_29ac6a5651_o.jpg"; 
alt="Tufted Duck" /></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jaymcgowan/16304870225"; title="Tufted 
Duck by Jay McGowan, on Flickr"><img 
src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7477/16304870225_3b116e0ff6_o.jpg"; 
alt="Tufted Duck" /></a>"

--Dave Nutter


On Jan 18, 2015, at 07:50 PM, cfschm...@aol.com wrote:

> Hi Guys,
> Well, I was about cross-eyed looking through the wonderful numbers of ducks 
> along Rte. 89 this afternoon, our car buffeted by passing traffic.  With 
> trees blocking sections of the whole raft, I tried to systematically look at 
> what was visible.
>    I could use some pointers -- I wasn't necessarily looking for the tuft, 
> but for the white sides and dark (not gray-ish) back.  Maybe a little smaller 
> size, more compact neck, etc.  How did you pick this guy out? 
>    I seem to remember Kevin saying that 'outlanders' are often on the edges 
> of a flock, so I always also make a point of scrutinizing the birds who have 
> kept themselves a bit to the side of the main group.  I don't know how often 
> this really would apply, but it seems to make some sense.
>   At any rate, if you have the time, I'd appreciate a little guidance.  Maybe 
> the listserv would find your comments useful.
> Thanks!!!
> Carol S.
--

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