Scoters masquerading as eiders is nothing new. I've seen a few myself that
initially made my heart beat a little faster for a moment or two. However, the
oddest one of which I know was not reported as an eider, but as a Smew. If that
sounds ridiculous, let me assure you it wasn't. Twenty or so years ago someone
reported a female Smew from Yaquina Bay. I was able to find the bird without
difficulty, but it turned out to be a very oddly plumaged female Black Scoter,
and I could see why it was reported as a Smew. It had the typical head pattern
of a female Black Scoter: pale cheeks, chin, and foreneck, and dark crown,
except in this case the crown was rusty-red almost the color of a Chipping
Sparrow's crown. I've never seen another one like it, and have no explanation
why that one was in such an abnormal plumage.
Darrel
