Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
The Lesser Scaup and the Greater Scaup are difficult to distinguish. Head shape is one way to differentiate them, but winter habitat can help too. The Greater is more of a saltwater bird and the Lesser a fresh water bird.
Pair bonds usually occur on the winter grounds and last until the hens lay their eggs. Then the males collect in bachelor groups to molt, leaving the hens in charge of child-rearing.

Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Salton Sea at Poe Road. Imperial County near Westmoreland, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:27 15:59 |
Location:
Poe Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X7525-LesserScaup |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Pair at the Salton Sea at Poe Road. Imperial County near Westmoreland, California 2015-04-27. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:27 16:16 |
Location:
Poe Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X7623-LesserScaup |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Salton Sea at Poe Road. Imperial County near Westmoreland, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:27 16:17 |
Location:
Poe Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X7635-LesserScaup |
© 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Pair at the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, south of Klamath Falls Oregon in California 2016-05-05. |
Date Taken: 2016:05:05 18:10 |
Location:
Lower Klamath NWR |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: D721263-LesserScaup |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Family at Midway Lake, East of Tok, Alaska, on the AlCan Highway 2005-07-12. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:12 11:36 |
Location:
Tetlin |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/5.6, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD8314ScaupFamily |
© 2005 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 12:33 |
Location:
Scripps Ranch |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD_2559LesserScaup-M |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Female at Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:25 |
Location:
Scripps Ranch |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 750 mm, f/8.0, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD_2687LesserScaup-F |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Female at Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:47 |
Location:
Scripps Ranch |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_2743LesserScaup-F |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:50 |
Location:
Scripps Ranch |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: JCD_2767LesserScaup-M |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 13:58 |
Location:
Scripps Ranch |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/500 |
File Name: JCD_2811LesserScaup-M |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Miramar Lake. San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2005:01:15 14:04 |
Location:
Scripps Ranch |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD_2832LesserScaup-M |
© 2005 Jack Daynes, (shadetree-Imaging.com) |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: Tingley Beach Reserve in Albuquerque New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:22 12:58 |
Location:
Tingley Beach |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D726365-LesserScaup |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Lesser Scaup(Aythya affinis) |
Description: This hen was working the piling of the docks near where we boarded our boat. My third day of exploration of Aransas NWR was a memorable one. I boarded the tour boat the "Skimmer" and got schooled by Captian Tommy Moore on a three plus hour cruise of the back-bays and waterways beyond the view of the public from the tour roads on the reserve. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:17 8:42 |
Location:
Fulton Harbor |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LesserScaup_D503409-BoatRide-Aransas-NWR |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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