| The bill on the smaller one was very distinctive, it was bluish(not just grey). The bill that I could see clearest had the markings of a ring-necked duck, but something just wasn't right. The marking on the cheeks of both are like the ring-necked, but the ring-necked does not have the bold white around the bill nor does it have the bold white on the wing. The greater scaup has both of these markings but lacks the distinctive cheek markings(usually). Both ducks swam with their tails held like the ruddy duck which has the cheek marking, but not the distinctive white around the bill. There is a 2 - 3 inch size difference in the two birds. |
