Lesser Scaup
Lesser ScaupLesser ScaupLesser ScaupLesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
40–50% · Possible
overall probability at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
331 Verified records at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Scaup sighting in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, based on 331 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve

Redhead
LC

Redhead

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya americana

10–20% · With luck
Ring-necked Duck
LC

Ring-necked Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya collaris

5–10% · With luck
Greater Scaup
LC

Greater Scaup

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya marila

<5% · Rare
Canvasback
LC

Canvasback

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya valisineria

Insufficient data
Northern Pintail
LC

Northern Pintail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas acuta

40–50% · Likely
Brant
LC

Brant

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta bernicla

20–30% · Possible
American Wigeon

American Wigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca americana

20–30% · Possible
Red-breasted Merganser
LC

Red-breasted Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus serrator

10–20% · With luck
Cinnamon Teal

Cinnamon Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula cyanoptera

10–20% · With luck
Surf Scoter
LC

Surf Scoter

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanitta perspicillata

10–20% · With luck
Northern Shoveler
LC

Northern Shoveler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula clypeata

10–20% · With luck
Ruddy Duck
LC

Ruddy Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oxyura jamaicensis

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

50–60
Jan
40–50
Feb
20–30
Mar
50–60
Apr
30–40
May
20–30
Jun
10–20
Jul
10–20
Aug
10–20
Sep
20–30
Oct
70–80
Nov
50–60
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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

# Park Country Probability
1 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
50–60%
2 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
40–50%
3 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
4 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
5 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
6 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
7 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
8 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
9 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
10 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
10–20%
11 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
12 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
5–10%
13 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
14 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
15 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
16 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
17 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
18 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
19 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
20 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
21 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
<5%
22 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
23 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
24 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
25 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
26 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
27 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
28 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
<5%
29 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
30 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
31 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
32 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
33 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
34 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
35 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
36 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
37 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
38 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
39 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
40 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
41 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
42 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
43 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
44 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
45 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
46 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
<5%
47 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
48 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
49 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
50 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
51 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
52 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
53 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
54 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
55 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
56 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
57 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
58 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
59 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
60 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
61 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
62 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
63 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
64 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
65 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
66 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
67 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
68 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
69 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
70 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Scaup in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve?

About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Scaup sighting in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, based on 331 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Lesser Scaup in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve?

November has the highest sighting rate for Lesser Scaup in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve in our monthly data.

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