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Re: Barnacle Geese & Greater Scaups ?





Head sheen (color) is not particularly useful in differentiating scaup species.
Both can have green or purple gloss depending on the angle of the sun.  Better
to use head shape, but even this can be tricky depending on the activity of the
bird.  For example, many lessers look like greaters as they feed, the head
feathers are held more closely and often resemble greaters.

As to the Barnacles, since they are so commonly kept in fanciers collections,
and not all fanciers band or pinion their birds, nearly all Barnacle sightings
south of Newfoundland are pretty much considered "escaped until proven
otherwise".  A good example of this reasoning occurred last year with the
Black-bellied Whistling Duck on Roanoke Island.  According to observers notes
the bird was not banded had no feather wear to indicate captivity, and was free
flying.  The bird was proven to have escaped from a fancier near Scotland Neck.

Best,
Steve Shultz
currently in northern NJ




RWDOTSON@aol.com on 12/13/2000 06:31:57 PM





To:   carolinabirds@duke.edu
cc:
Subject:  Barnicle Geese & Greater Scaups ?



Has anyone seen the barnicle geese at the pond near Greensboro lately. If
they are escapees wouldn't they be banded, wouldn't there be some evidence of
having their wings clipped and how do they decide if these birds are
countable for ABA life list purposes? Someone suggested that I go to
Pennsylvania to see the Barnicle geese there, because PA is more liberal
about letting them count than NC is.                             Has anyone
seen Greater Scaup on the lake at RDU? I know you're supposed to go by head
shape and not head color, but a week ago saw Scaups that had a green head
equivalent to mallard duck green when the sun was just right. the sun was
very bright that day and their heads appeared just dark at other times. Just
like to know if
a Lesser Scaup can have a green head under good light.

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