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Lesser Scaup
jmorlan

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

This is a female. Both sexes are similar to Greater Scaup but distinguished with care by Lesser Scaup's smaller head with slightly more peaked crown showing a small step or tuft in the feathering of the back of the head as seen here in profile. Note the back of the head is also straighter, less rounded, and the bill has a smaller dark nail at the tip than Greater Scaup. Eye color varies with age, starting out brown. It may also vary seasonally as I've seen dark eyed summering adult females with chicks.
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Location
Coyote Point, San Mateo, California, USA.
Date taken
11 February 2021
Scientific name
Aythya affinis
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Reactions: sbarnhardt and Deb Burhinus
Deb Burhinus
Great image - the more we have in the gallery the better with this species given the ID difficulties with Greater Scaup and even female Tufties.
 
delia todd
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
That's a cracking picture you've taken of this scaup Joe.

Well done and thanks my friend.
 

Media information

Category
North America
Added by
jmorlan
Date added
View count
424
Comment count
4

Image metadata

Device
Canon Canon PowerShot SX70 HS
Aperture
ƒ/6.5
Focal length
247.0 mm
Exposure time
1/400 second(s)
ISO
100
Filename
LesserScaupIMG_4515.jpg
File size
113.6 KB
Date taken
Thu, 11 February 2021 10:43 AM
Dimensions
800px x 569px

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