Lesser scaup

Lesser scaup
Adult male
Adult female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aythya
Species:
A. affinis
Binomial name
Aythya affinis
(Eyton, 1838)
  Breeding
  Migration
  Year-round
  Nonbreeding
Synonyms

Fuligula affinis Eyton, 1838

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to Lesser Scaup on xeno-canto

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 credit it to the female's discordant scaup call as the name's source.[2] It is apparently a very close relative of the Holarctic greater scaup or "bluebill" (A. marila), with which it forms a superspecies.[3][4] The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek aithuia an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin, affinis "related to", from its resemblance to the greater scaup.[5]

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Aythya affinis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680402A92861095. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680402A92861095.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference DUb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference carboneras1992 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Livezey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 35, 64. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.