Bird sighting: Hi all...I have a question for all the bird lovers. I live near a pond, and there are still some ducks dipping for food at the shore line, but, today I saw two aquatic...

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

Hi all...I have a question for all the bird lovers. I live near a pond, and there are still some ducks dipping for food at the shore line, but, today I saw two aquatic birds and don't know what they were. I'll describe them.

To begin, they were about half the size of the ducks. (I believe the ducks were pintails.) One of the birds was black, but the other bird had a white head, and at the base of the head it was black all along the top of the body, while the sides were also white. I know they were a pair. Also, they dove under the water I imagine for food. They were not Loons for sure.

Can anyone tell me what they were?

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Rich2236 wrote:

Hi all...I have a question for all the bird lovers... (show quote)

Look familiar? This is a male Bufflehead; if the light is not right, the head will look dark or even black. Females are grey-brown but have small white patch on the side of their face. Where are you located?

(Download)

ronWA Loc: Western Washington

I am on the other end of the country from you but you might look up Bufflehead. They are small ducks that dive for plant material. The male has a head that is iridescent black in front but white on the top and back of the head. The back of the duck is black and the sides are white. Females are dark and have black heads with a white spot behind the eye on each side. I was just saw some this morning on a pond in Washington.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Try this.... https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

ronWA Loc: Western Washington

Bajadreamer,

I guess I was typing while you were posting. Nice shot of the Bufflehead. I know how difficult it is to get the light right to capture the colors in the head.

Ron

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

bajadreamer wrote:

Look familiar? This is a male Bufflehead; if the light is not right, the head will look dark or even black. Females are grey-brown but have small white patch on the side of their face. Where are you located?

I'm in Southern New Hampshire. And yes, it certainly does look like the bird I saw, but I guess the light was not just right because I did not see the iridescent colors, just black and white.

Stonewall Loc: Pocono Mountains

Rich2236 wrote:

Hi all...I have a question for all the bird lovers... (show quote)

Could also be hooded merganser?

bajadreamer Loc: Baja California Sur

Stonewall wrote:

Could also be hooded merganser?

I also considered that, but Hoodies do not have white sides.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Rich2236 wrote:

I'm in Southern New Hampshire. And yes, it certainly does look like the bird I saw, but I guess the light was not just right because I did not see the iridescent colors, just black and white.

The iridescent colors can be hard to capture. It usually requires bald clear sky, low sun angle, and the proper angle of view. I wish you future luck in a capture of them swimming in front of your camera.

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

bajadreamer wrote:

Look familiar? This is a male Bufflehead; if the light is not right, the head will look dark or even black. Females are grey-brown but have small white patch on the side of their face. Where are you located?

Thanks so much for the info, bajadreamer. Much appreciated.

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

ronWA wrote:

I am on the other end of the country from you but you might look up Bufflehead. They are small ducks that dive for plant material. The male has a head that is iridescent black in front but white on the top and back of the head. The back of the duck is black and the sides are white. Females are dark and have black heads with a white spot behind the eye on each side. I was just saw some this morning on a pond in Washington.

Thanks so much ronWA. I knew I could count on UH'ers here.

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

bsprague wrote:

Try this.... https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

I looked at the app bsprague, looks good. I certainly will look closer when I have some more time. Thank you so much.

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

Stonewall wrote:

Could also be hooded merganser?

Thanks Stonewall for your input, I do appreciate it.

Rich2236 Loc: E. Hampstead, New Hampshire

wdross wrote:

The iridescent colors can be hard to capture. It usually requires bald clear sky, low sun angle, and the proper angle of view. I wish you future luck in a capture of them swimming in front of your camera.

Thanks wdross, it was a very overcast day, so I wasn't able to see any iridescent colors, I hope I see them on a sunny day.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

Coot?