lesser scaup
Quick Summary
The lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) is a common North American diving duck, also known as the little bluebill. It is similar to the greater scaup but is smaller, with males having heads glossed with purple, unlike the green gloss of the greater scaup. Females are brown with white patches around their blue bills.12
Lesser scaups are about 38–51 cm (15–20 inches) long. They are popular game birds and are often found in large flocks offshore during winter, where they dive for food, primarily clams. In flight, a distinguishing feature is that the white stripe on the rear of their wing extends only halfway to the wingtip, shorter than that of the greater scaup.234
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pochard…the wing tip; in the lesser scaup (A. affinis), the wing stripe is about half as long. Scaups gather in huge flocks offshore in winter and dive for shellfish (hence scaup, from scallop).
Read More…the wing tip; in the lesser scaup (A. affinis), the wing stripe is about half as long. Scaups gather in huge flocks offshore in winter and dive for shellfish (hence scaup, from scallop).
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scaupThe lesser scaup (A. affinis), a New World species also known as the little bluebill, breeds across the northwest quadrant of North America. In the New World both species winter along the coasts of the United States; the lesser scaup reaches central Mexico. Both popular game…
Read MoreThe lesser scaup (A. affinis), a New World species also known as the little bluebill, breeds across the northwest quadrant of North America. In the New World both species winter along the coasts of the United States; the lesser scaup reaches central Mexico. Both popular game…
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