I’ve been working on my species recognition . . . on the female side. Unlike with humans, male birds are much more attractive and colorful than their female counterparts and much more difficult to identify. For instance, yesterday I saw this female White-winged Scoter  (above) swimming by herself. It took me a while to figure out what she was.

The male White-winged Scoter is much more obvious.

And compare the male and female Harlequin Ducks, also photographed yesterday.