Harlequin Duck (female)? Canada, Yukon (1 Viewer)

[JarJar]

Hi there,

I saw Harlequin Ducks in Alaska, Valdez 2weeks later. Is this also one? There were also a lot of Buffleheads around!

Seen in: Canada, South-Yukon, between Whitehorse and Carmacks, Twin-Lakes 10. of July 2014

Thanks a lot,
Christoph

 

[Butty]

Harlequin has an odd head/bill-shape, and this doesn't seem to be it. Looks more like white-winged scoter.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Agree with whitewinged scoter. Harlequin has the white patch more to rear of head , here it is close to eye as in the scoter, and the bill is also too long for harlequin and differnetly shaped..

 

[Brian J Small]

See Martin Garner's classic ID paper - https://www.birdguides-cdn.com/cdn/...d scoters id photo guide_birdwatchfeb14lr.pdf

Your image does not rule out any of the 'white-winged' scoters, but on range is White-winged

 

[JarJar]

Thanks for the link to this very interesting paper @Brian J Small so I think White-winged is correct! There were some more adults swimmung around there. Thanks also @Joern Lehmhus and @Butty