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Further to last month's column, I want to continue this month with another type of duck species that may be observed regularly in the Okanagan Valley, and are broadly grouped as "diving ducks". Some people referred to them as "sea ducks" or "bay ducks". Their common characteristic is they dive below the surface of the water to obtain food. Like other ducks they are aided by web feet but with an addition of a paddle-like flap on the hind toe and generally their legs are placed farther to the rear of the body, than is found in dabbling duck species. When taking off from the water, they patter along the surface to gain enough speed to get air borne. Like a lot of bird behavior, be mindful that dabblers can and do dive and diving ducks will dabble in shallow water.
Redhead
This is a duck that frequents fresh marshes in summer as well as lakes and estuaries. It is approx. 18 - 20" in length and the male sports a black chest and a round red brown head with a blue bill tipped with black. The female is brownish overall in colour with a lighter patch at the base of the bill. Both sexes have broad grayish wing stripes at trailing edge of the wing feathers. The male's call is a cat-like, nasal meow while the female has a deep purr. It is seen mainly in autumn and winter on the Okanagan Lake, when it gathers in large flocks off shore. At one time there were estimated a population of 7,000 of these birds nesting in the Cariboo and Chilcotin regions of the Province, but there has been a significant decline in recent years. They winter on the BC Coast and in Utah and Colorado, thus migrating through the valley in March and April and returning in November to mid- December. They are known to parasitize other ducks nests. The usual clutch is 10 - 15 eggs.
Ring necked duck
This is a smaller duck measuring between 14 and 18 inches. It is seen mainly as a migrant with a few wintering here. They inhabit lakes bordered with coniferous trees and/or wooded ponds. The head, chest and back are black, the sides light grey with a conspicuous vertical white mark in front of the wing; while the bill has a noticeable white outline at the base of the bill and a white ring near the tip. A dull chestnut neck ring is seldom visible (so why call it a ring necked duck?). Both male and female have a rather triangular head shape, with the female having an overall brown colour but with a white-eye ring. She also has a whitish ring at the base of the bill. Their call is a low hissing whistle. They breed in Central B.C. and winter in Southern B.C. and throughout the Pacific States. Vaseaux Lake, if not frozen, is the best place to see wintering Ring Necked Ducks.
Greater and Lesser Scaups
These ducks can cause great confusion and debate amongst birders. The species are similar in all plumages. In winter the Lesser Scaups prefers fresh water and smaller ponds while the Greater Scaups prefers more open salt water. The Greater Scaups male tends to be whiter on the flank and with a rounder head which appears may appear glossy green, while the Lesser Scaups have a higher crown and is glossed purple. These identifying differences are quite difficult to determine, and to become expert at separating the two species, you almost need to see them in the same flock, until you feel comfortable at separating these closely related, but different duck species. They pose one of the fun challenges in birding. On the wing, the wing stripes are an identifying factor. The trailing wing stripe in the Lesser Scaup extends only halfway along the wing, whereas in the Greater Scaup the stripe extends through the primaries. Both species and both sexes have blue bills.
Pat Westheuser
Central Okanagan Naturalist Club 2007-06 |
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