Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderAnseriformes
- FamilyAnatidae (Anàtids)
- GenusAythya (Scaups, Pochards, and Allies)
- SpeciesAythya affinis (Lesser Scaup)
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. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Scaup sighting in Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park, based on 60 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Scaup in Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Scaup sighting in Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park, based on 60 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Lesser Scaup in Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Lesser Scaup in Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park in our monthly data.