Adventures Outdoors'
IN WISCONSIN
LESSER SCAUP
( Aythya affinis)
ABOUT THEM
The Lesser Scaup breeds on the Prairies of Canada, where it prefers small ponds and marshes, unlike his cousin the Greater. It winters more widely across the southern half of the US. They have a very extensive breeding range extending from the Northern US through the Prairie pothole region to the Berring Sea. The largest concentrations of them are in the Boreal forests of Canada. They migrate through the Central and Mississippi Valley flyways down to the Gulf of Mexico and coastal Florida. Some also visit Central America. The Hens lay an average of 9 eggs and prefer to nest near the waters edge. Their population has declined since the 80,s and in 2001 they numbered 3.3 million birds, an 8% decrease from 2000. They are divers and their diet consists mainly of aquatic plants and animals.
DESCRIPTION
The Drakes head is more of a glossy purple rather than green. They have a shorter white wing speculum (half the length of the wing) than the Greater Scaup. They are smaller than the Greater and have a dark colored nail at the end of their bill. Also see the description of the Greater Scaup in Wisconsin Ducks. The Drakes make a weak whistle sound while the Hen makes a lower toned growling sound.
SIZE
Average length = Drake, 17" Hen, 16.5"
Average Weight = Drake, 1.8lbs Hen, 1.6lbs