Lesser Scaup
The Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 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 give it credit 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" (A. marila), with which it forms a superspecies.
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| Lesser Scaup |
image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:BS_Thurner_Hof
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| Lesser Scaup |
image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Basar
Description
Adults are 38–48 cm (15–19 in) long, 41.7–43 cm (16.4–17 in) on average. The species can weigh 454–1,089 g (1.00–2.40 lb); males weigh 820 g (1.8 lb) on average and weigh noticeably less, at 730 g (1.6 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 1.4–1.7 in (3.6–4.3 cm). The wingspan is 68–78 cm (27–31 in).
