About the Lesser Scaup
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…
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ID tip
Adults are 38–48 cm (15–19 in) long, 41.7–43 cm (16.4–16.9 in) on average. The species can weigh 454–1,089 g (1.001–2.401 lb); males weigh 820 g (1.81 lb) on average while females weigh noticeably less, at 730 g (1.61 lb) on average. Wing lengths (not wingspans) are about 7.5–7.9 in (19–20 cm) in males and 7.3–7.8 in (19–20 cm) in females. The tarsus is about 1.4–1.5 in (3.6–3.8 cm) long, and the bill is 1.4–1.7 in (3.6–4.3 cm). The wingspan is 68–78 cm (27–31 in).
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Morocco, Algeria, British Virgin Islands, St. Barthélemy.
When to see it
Peak activity in March · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaThe adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill with golden yellow eyes, along with a thin crest on the back of the head.
Ring-necked DuckAythya collarisRing-necked ducks are small to medium-sized diving ducks with the following length, weight, and wingspan measurements:
Length: 15.3–18.1 in (39–46 cm)
Weight: 17.3–32.1 oz (490–910 g)
Wingspan: 24.4–24.8 in (62–63 cm)
The adult male is similar in color pattern to the Eurasian tufted duck, its relative.
RedheadAythya americanaThe redhead is a pochard, a diving duck specially adapted to foraging underwater.
Side by side: Lesser Scaup vs Ring-necked Duck · Lesser Scaup vs Tufted Duck · Lesser Scaup vs Redhead
Learn the Lesser Scaup for real
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