Answers & solutions
Compare your answers with our answers and reasoning below. How well did you do, this month?
BIRD 1
Here is what (from all we can see) is a black-and-white drake, throwing its head back, so its bill appears to point skyward. Our view is of the white breast, the chin and the underside of the bill. From what we can see of the flanks, they are pure white, like the breast. But what other clues are being shown here? The bill is broad and quite short (it is not the bill of a ‘sawbill’), The black head seems quite wide at the sides (like it has ‘hamster cheeks’) and there are two white areas showing either side of the bill. What we can see of the back is black and there appear to be some thin black lines on the white wings on show here. All these features should be enough to identify this bird as a drake Goldeneye, throwing its head back in typical display.
Key features
n White body, black back
n Black head with white cheek spots
n Short, rounded 'duck bill'
n Black striped white wings
BIRD 2
In some ways this drake is showing more features doing its head flicking and bobbing display than it would normally show, when just swimming by (see inset). It is not the most striking drake, with largely grey or grey-brown plumage (though close inspection reveals that the plumage is really finely vermiculated). The black bill is a classic ‘duck bill’ a bit like that of a Mallard (at least in shape). The rear end appears solidly black and the belly emerging from the water looks white. Finally, there is a pure white panel in the wing, the so-called speculum. Well, there is only one drake with this rather toned down combination, complete with the white ‘sugar cube’ speculum. This is, of course, a drake Gadwall. Key features Generally grey-brown standard duck Black rear end White speculum Black bill
BIRD 3
This bird almost looks in pain! It has plunged its breast below the surface of the water while raising its head and bill, as well as its rear end. Perhaps the most striking thing is that open bill: it is so fine, so narrow and so red; with a hint of a tiny hook at the tip. Next most striking is the spiky black crest on the back of the black head (with red eye). There is a white ‘collar’, and the body is a mix of grey (or fine vermiculations) with a black-andwhite back and white belly. Finally, the leg and foot are red. This can only be a merganser of some kind. Goosanders lack the spiky punk crest and have white or salmon flanks and dark (not red) eyes. All the features confirm this is a Red-breasted Merganser. Key features Long thin red bill Spiky crest on black head Black back, ‘grey’ flanks and tail Red legs
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BIRD 4
We think the ID Challenge has been too easy, this month; do you agree? Anyhow, to add a little spice, we thought we may throw a slightly trickier one into the mix. It is only tricky because it is not particularly familiar to most UK birdwatchers, but in some ways closely resembles one of our most common ducks, the Tufted Duck. But the dusky flanks and the bill pattern are both wrong for Tufty. Otherwise it looks quite Tufted Duck-like (though we can’t see whether there is a tuft on the back of this bird’s head, as it is thrown so far back!). The back is black, the breast, neck and head a similar black shade. The flank is grey apart from a white area at the front end. The eye is yellow. The dark grey bill with white before the black ‘nail’ and at the base are diagnostic of the rare Ring-necked Duck.
Key features
Black, grey and white duck Grey flanks have white at front end Yellow eye Diagnostic bill pattern
BIRD 5
This one is too easy and there is a strong argument that it shouldn’t have been included in this month’s ID Challenge. The only thing that may be a tad challenging about this photo is that the drake in question has made itself into an unusual shape (owing to be mid-display), making it look more like one of those cute, cuddly toy ducks you can squeeze and get a repeated sample sound... In this case it would be a high ‘preep preep’ call. It is of, course, a Teal, and the following features back this up: rusty head with broad green ‘eyestripe’ lined with yellow, vermiculated body; teal green speculum; horizontal white line in folded wing; yellow-and-black undertail coverts; and small black bill.
Key features
Red, green and yellow head Vermiculated body White horizontal stripe in wing, ‘teal’ speculum Yellow and black rear end
BIRD 6
Like other birds in this month’s ID Challenge, this one is displaying by throwing back its head and pointing its bill skyward. That head is glossy green-black and the bill is blood red, with a pronounced hook at the tip. The eye is dark. The long body is largely whitish (including the breast) with a black back. That narrow hooked bill means that it can only be one of the mergansers, and the dark green-black head means this is an adult drake (of course). If the white breast is not enough to persuade you this is not a Red-breasted Merganser, then the pattern and thickness of the bill should tell you this is a displaying drake Goosander.
Key features
Thick-based red bill with hooked tip Glossy bottle-green, smooth head Largely white body Black back