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Ducks - Noord-Holland Netherlands (1 Viewer)

meg2772

Member
Hello, I saw this duck in Noord Holland today, am hoping for some ID help for tufted vs scaup. Thanks!
 

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Oh how interesting! What does variable hybrid mean? I have a few more photos which I have attached here.
 

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Most hybrids are more variable in their appearance than either parent species (an extreme example being the headpa ttern of hybrids between Mallard and Gadwall) , but some hybrids (eg. Pintail x Mallard) are not very variable.

In Tufted duck x Common pochard, there is considerable variation- but I would say not as much as in Mallard x Gadwall.
 
I think the peaked crown looks much more like hybrid than like Tufted duck (we all agree it is not a pochard or a scaup , I think), compare with these males

The flanks seem rather grey to me and the eye is a brownish yellow color (which could certainly also fit for a young tufted duck)
There is no clear tuft visible, even where the wind goes into the head feathers from behind.

I agree it looks closer to Tufted duck, but due to the above I think hybrid , though the birds structure could also make this a backcross (Tufted x Pochard) x Tufted.

However , if you find a pure tufted duck that looks like this , I´ll have to rethink ;)
 
Meg 2772 , if you still have any more photos of the bird, no matter how bad, it could be helpfull
Hi Joern, thanks for the detailed replies. I do have some more photos indeed. There is one with some movement that shows the sides as well, albeit not in focus.
 

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I think if the new pictures are more accurate , then it is not a hybrid , but a Tufted duck, and THE FERN , you were right questioning my initial ID. That shows again how tricky photos can be sometimes.
I assume the photos were taken under very windy conditions then?
 

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