Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

About Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

Kingdom: Animals
Phylum: Chordates
Class: Birds
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Swans, Geese, and Ducks

The lesser scaup is a small North American diving duck that migrates south as far as Central America in winter. It is colloquially known as the little bluebill or broadbill because of its distinctive blue bill. The origin of the name scaup may stem from the bird's preference for feeding on scalp—the Scottish word for clams, oysters, and mussels; however, some credit it to the female's discordant scaup call as the name's source. It is apparently a very close relative of the Holarctic greater scaup or "bluebill", with which it forms a superspecies. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek and Latin, with aithuia being an Ancient Greek term for an unidentified seabird, used by Hesychius and Aristotle, among other authors, and affinis, Latin for "related to", from the lesser scaup's resemblance to the greater scaup.

Source: Wikipedia

Lifelists

Trips

Visits

2000-01-01

Hudson River, United States of America

A raft of them just offshore. The locals thought they might be pigeons.
2007-01-13

Suisun Marsh, United States of America
2007-04-11

San Diego Estuary, United States of America
2008-01-26

Agua Vista Park, United States of America
2010-02-21

Lerma Marshes, Mexico
2012-07-10

Chase Lake NWR, United States of America
2012-07-12

Yellowstone National Park, United States of America

Difficult to get a good look at adult with seven ducklings.
2013-04-16

Aransas NWR (CTC 037) (Aransas Co.), United States of America
2013-04-17

Brazoria NWR (UTC 108), United States of America
2014-02-16

Golden Gate Park - Lloyd Lake, United States of America
2015-01-01

Candlestick Park, United States of America
2015-01-20

Arrowhead Marsh, United States of America
2015-01-21

Shollenberger Park, United States of America
2021-01-30

Tomales Bay State Park, United States of America
2024-01-25

Wakodahatchee Wetlands, United States of America
2024-02-02

Laguna de Leche, Cuba
2025-03-21

Random Cow Ponds, Barbados