Article
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. It is apparently a very close relative of the Holarctic greater scaup or "bluebill" (A. marila), with which it forms a superspecies. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek and Latin, with aithuia being an Ancient Greek term for an unidentified seabird, used by Hesychius and Aristotle, among other authors, and affinis, Latin for "related to", from the lesser scaup's resemblance to the greater scaup.
Description
Gallery (2)
Connections
Categories
AythyaBirds described in 1838Birds of HaitiBirds of the Dominican RepublicBirds of the United StatesIUCN Red List least concern speciesLeast concern biota of the United StatesNative birds of AlaskaNative birds of the Canadian PrairiesNative birds of the Northwestern United StatesNative birds of Western CanadaTaxa named by Thomas Campbell Eyton