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[China] Scaly-sided Merganser 中華秋沙鴨

Scaly-sided Merganser 中華秋沙鴨

18-12-2011
Poyang Lake 鄱陽湖

It was a big surprise to me when I went through at night the photos of Common Mergansers I took during the day; I wouldn't imagine there would be a Scaly-sided Merganser mixed with a flock of Common Mergansers (2nd from the right).

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(The one at the middle)

(3rd from the right)

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Please check again, this level of scales is not enough to be Scaly-sided.

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Fai Gor, thanks for your comments.
Even though the scales on this Merganser were not so apparent, I think the features of this bird matched the description on 'The  Birds of HK & South China'   as compared to the Common Mergansers around :

a. Size - 58 cm vs Common Merganser's 65 cm
b. With crest of wispy elongated feathers
c. Different head shape
d. Different side pattern (in flight)
e. Darker feathers around the neck

2 further enlarged photos are attached  here for easy reference.



[ Last edited by Paux at 23/12/2011 12:06 ]

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Scaly-sided Merganser

Nice find !
http://johnjemi.hk

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