Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Also known as: Lesser Scaup Duck
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
PlantSeed
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
819 g
About This Species
A compact diving duck found on lakes, reservoirs and sheltered coastal bays, recognisable by the male's peaked black head with a faint purple sheen and a pale grey-blue bill tip. It feeds by diving for aquatic invertebrates and plant matter, often in loose rafts with other diving ducks. Winter is the best season to see it in numbers on open water, when flocks gather on larger lakes and estuaries away from their northern breeding grounds.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- View rafting ducks from a shoreline path or hide with binoculars or a scope rather than approaching the water's edge, since diving ducks are quick to swim or fly off if pressed.
- Waterfowl on many lakes and reservoirs are covered by wildlife protection law and site-specific bylaws, particularly around waterfowl refuges in winter, so check for posted restrictions at larger wintering sites.
- Avoiding boats, dogs off leash, or fast movement near the shoreline keeps rafts from being repeatedly flushed during the energy-critical winter months.
LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae
Seasonal Activity
2,434,458 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Traits
- Diet
- PlantSeed
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 819 g
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.