This first winter bird is much lighter on the back and neck than the adult. The markings on the front of the throat were bleached out by the sun but were very evident as it swam by. The back pattern showed edges to the feathers rather than the speckling seen on the darker backed adults. Generally these young birds exhibit an almost all gray neck coloration with little or no demarcation between the front and back of the neck. It is fun to watch these birds change through the season.