Name that Bird Round 2 - Answers

The answers to last week's photo quiz. Scroll down a bit for photographs.

1. No shortage of these around at the moment. Despite its appearance here, this is a Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus). In spring and summer this bird has a dark brown/black hood (hence the name) which make it easily recognisable but in autumn and winter plumage the key feature is a small dark spot behind the eye.

2. At first glance this bird could be mistaken for a crow; it’s not the best photo after all. But with careful study you should be able to make out a sleek grey nape or ‘hood’ that indicates it is a Jackdaw (Corvus monedula). It’s not quite a ‘normal’ Jackdaw either, a bonus point for those who noticed the unusual plumage colour and recognised this is as an example of a pied or partially leucistic Jackdaw.

In birds, Leucism is the term used to describe conditions where plumage is missing colour. This occurs due to a genetic mutation that prevents melanin (pigment) from developing in the feathers and results in individuals being paler or even completely white in colour.

3. Female Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula). The key ID feature on both sexes is the small crest on the back of the head. It is larger on the more distinctively marked male. This small diving duck of the Aythya genus is a common site on ponds, lakes and reservoirs all year round. I included this mainly as a comparison to the next photo which looks similar but is a...

4. Female Scaup (Aythya marila). Although similar in appearance to a female Tufted Duck this bird is a considerably scarcer winter migrant to Britain. Similar in size and colour to a female Tufted the important ID feature here is the pale band around its bill. Habitat is also a giveaway since Scaups are generally a coastal bird, unlike Tufted Ducks.

5. Ha! So any ideas what left this footprint? I took this photograph at East India Dock basin just before Christmas, a site that is frequented by numerous species of wader and waterfowl.  These prints were quite large so Canada Goose might be a good bet, although at the time I did note a good number of Shelduck present. You decide!