Greater Scaup (Aythya marila), Gilbert Water Ranch, Maricopa County

This Greater Scaup was found by Louis Hoeniger on 21 December 2017 and photographed by Sean Fitzgerald on 02 January 2018

While a regular and commonly observed winter resident on parts of the Colorado River in Arizona, this species is rare statewide away from the Colorado River. This female Greater Scaup has been associating with the Aythya flock on the main fishing pond at Gilbert Water Ranch and offering outstanding views and comparisons with Lesser Scaup at close range.

Wider jowels relative to overall bill width and head proportions compared to Lesser Scaup (see https://cobirds.org/CFO/ColoradoBirds/InTheScope/21.pdf for additional discussion of this ID trait). Rounded head shape visible in multiple different postures. White wing stripe extends out to primaries and is thicker/wider in the secondaries than Lesser Scaup. Slightly larger body size than Lesser Scaup. Additional angles can be viewed on eBird.

02 January 2018, photo by Sean Fitzgerald

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