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Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) Ducks, Geese and Waterfowl (Anatidae) | |||||||||||||
Hvidøjet And ~ Porrón Pardo ~ Vitögd Dykand | |||||||||||||
Denmark | |||||||||||||
3099
(17 photos)
2019-08-09 Damhussøen, Denmark
Adult male. Inconspicuously looking species especially among the other aythya ducks, Tufted Duck and Common Pochard. But still at least the males have their characteristics, like the white eye, the overall chocolate warm plumage with the reddish cast to the head, the sharply defined white undertail coverts, and the long evenly sloped bill that gives this species a more elegant expression than Tufted Ducks. A scarce but regular visitor from central Europe, very likely to become more common in the future with the warmer climate in mind. The bird has been present for several weeks, and observed to have no flight feathers a while ago, why it is stuck until the wing is fully grown again. Rare |
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5402
(4 photos)
2023-11-15 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark
First calendar year. ♂. Birkedammen. Discovered a few days ago by Thomas Hellesen. Unfortunately it is difficult to approach, resulting in these poor photos. Live it is not a bird that stands out, unless you spot it fully exposed and in good light. The white rump is larger than on Tufted Duck, and the flanks are more rufous as is the pointed head, plus it has the long sloping bill with the narrow black nail on a diffuse white background. But all of this can be difficult to see if it doesn't show well. A good lesson to have for the future search of rare ducks, especially aythya and even more so, hybrids. Strangely enough, any of these rarities are seldomly seen between the large flocks of Tufted Ducks we have present every winter. But perhaps for the exact same reason, that they are difficult to spot unless the conditions are good. And perhaps other birders feel the same way as I do, after having scanned through thousands of tufted during the years, in vain, you reach a point where enough is enough, and you end up doing the job half-heartedly. Rare |