Lesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup, male

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Lesser Scaup, female

Lesser Scaup, nonbreeding male

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

Two scaup species live in North America: the Greater Scaup prefers salt water and is found in America and Eurasia, while the Lesser Scaup prefers freshwater and is found only in North America. The Lesser Scaup is one of the most abundant and widespread of the diving ducks in North America

Description

• Medium-sized diving duck.
• Slight bump or peak on back of head.
• Bill bluish with small black tip.
• Male with black head, chest, and rear end, and gray sides (black on the ends and white in the middle).

• Size: 39-46 cm (15-18 in)
• Wingspan: 68-78 cm (27-31 in)
• Weight: 454-1089 g (16.03-38.44 ounces)

Sex Differences

Breeding male bold black-and-white; female drabber and more brown with white patch at base of bill.

Sound

Male makes faint whistled "whe-o" in courtship. Female makes grating "garf, garf."

Conservation Status

Common. The continental population of breeding Lesser Scaup exhibits large yearly fluctuations. There has been a marked recent decline in populations.

Other Names

Petit fuligule, Petit morillon (French)
Pato boludo-menor, Pato del medio (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The Lesser Scaup is a regular, if relatively uncommon, visitor to Hawaii, and is the third most abundant duck in the state. Only the Hawaiian Duck actually breeds there.

• An adult Lesser Scaup may pretend to be dead (immobile with head extended, eyes open, and wings held close to body) when grasped by a red fox.

• Lesser Scaup chicks are capable of diving under water on their hatching day, but they are too buoyant to stay under for more than just a moment. By the time they are 5 to 7 weeks old they are able to dive for 2-25 seconds and swim underwater for 15-18 meters (50-60 ft).

Sources used to construct this page:

Austin, J. E., C. M. Custer, and A. D. Afton. 1998. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis). In The Birds of North America, No. 338 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.