How can you tell the difference between lesser and scaup?
Male Scaup The peak of the crown on the Greater is toward the front of the head. The Lesser shows an almost small tuft near the back of the head, which can be seen on some males. The Greater shows a more rounded head appearance.
Is lesser scaup rare?
Although it is still abundant, the total population has declined significantly in recent decades, and the causes are not well understood. Marsh ponds (summer), lakes, bays, estuaries.
How do I know if I have scaup?
The Four Keys to ID
- Size & Shape.
- At a distance, breeding male Lesser Scaup are black and white, but closer views reveal an iridescent purple to green sheen on the head, a finely barred black-and-white back, a bluish bill, and a yellow eye.
What ducks are considered scaup?
scaup, also called Bluebill, (genus Aythya), any of three species of diving ducks (family Anatidae). The greater scaup (A. marila), also called the big bluebill, breeds across Eurasia and most of the Nearctic region. The lesser scaup (A.
Is lesser scaup good eating?
6 | They’re Good to Eat I won’t argue that scaup rival most puddle ducks, a canvasback or even a rice-fed ringbill or redhead. However, when cleaned and prepared with care, they’re pretty good. The key is to eat them fresh. Shoot, I’ve even written about shovelers, mergansers and ruddy ducks.
What does lesser mean with birds?
‘Lesser spotted’ is often used as a joke prefix, normally for birds or other wildlife seen as obscure (and therefore for purists only), or as a kind of insult. The original ‘lesser spotted’ bird is the lesser spotted woodpecker, and it is a fairly appropriate name in this case.
What does a scaup look like?
Nonbreeding males look like a cross between a female and a breeding male: a mottled brown-and-gray body and a blackish head. During migration and winter, Greater Scaup form large flocks on bays, lakes, and larger wetlands. They tend to form tight groups with each other and sometimes mix with other diving ducks.
Is a ring necked duck a scaup?
Closely related and superficially similar to the greater and lesser scaup, this diving bird has a few embellishments that easily set it apart from the scaup. Like the scaup, the male ringneck is blackish—in most light—on head, chest, and back.
Are ringneck ducks considered scaup?
Where can you use lesser?
You can use lesser to refer to something or someone that is less important than other things or people of the same type. They pleaded guilty to lesser charges of criminal damage. He was feared by other, lesser, men. Lesser is used in the names of some species of birds, animals, and plants.
What kind of Duck is a lesser scaup?
The Four Keys to ID. Size & Shape The Lesser Scaup is a medium-sized diving duck with a small peak at the back of the head. From the small peak, the back of the head and neck is flat, not rounded as it is on Greater Scaup. Relative Size Larger than a Green-winged Teal, smaller than a Canvasback.
What kind of group does a lesser scaup form?
During migration and winter, Lesser Scaup form large flocks on lakes, bays, rivers, and larger wetlands. They tend to form tight groups and mix with other diving ducks such as Canvasbacks, Redheads, Greater Scaup, and Ring-necked Ducks. This opens in a new window.
What does a nonbreeding lesser scaup look like?
Nonbreeding males look like a cross between a female and a breeding male: a mottled brown-and-gray body and a blackish head. During migration and winter, Lesser Scaup form large flocks on lakes, bays, rivers, and larger wetlands.
What kind of duck has a peaked head?
Medium-sized diving duck with a peaked head and a smallish straight bill. Females can show only small amounts of white on the face like this individual. They acquire yellow eyes with age. Medium-sized diving duck with a peak to the back of the head (inconspicuous in some postures), and head that is often darker than body.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x6Z37iESDA