Lesser Scaup
Lesser ScaupLesser ScaupLesser ScaupLesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Grand Canyon National Park
24 Verified sightings at Grand Canyon National Park From 2019 to 2026
5,018 Verified sightings across all 48 parks From 2019 to 2026
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the 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.

Adults are 38–48 cm (15–19 in) long, 41.7–43 cm (16.4–16.9 in) on average. The species can weigh 454–1,089 g (1.001–2.401 lb); males weigh 820 g (1.81 lb) on average while females weigh noticeably less, at 730 g (1.61 lb) on average. Wing lengths (not wingspans) are about 7.5–7.9 in (19–20 cm) in males and 7.3–7.8 in (19... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Grand Canyon National Park

Ring-necked Duck
LC

Ring-necked Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya collaris

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Redhead
LC

Redhead

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya americana

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Common Merganser
LC

Common Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus merganser

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
American White-winged Scoter
LC

American White-winged Scoter

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanitta deglandi

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
American Wigeon
LC

American Wigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca americana

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Goldeneye
LC

Common Goldeneye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala clangula

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Blue-winged Teal
LC

Blue-winged Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula discors

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Gadwall
LC

Gadwall

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca strepera

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Teal
LC

Common Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas crecca

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Cinnamon Teal
LC

Cinnamon Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula cyanoptera

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
2 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
3 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
4 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
5 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
6 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
~10%
7 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
8 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
9 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
10 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
11 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
<5%
12 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
14 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
15 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
<5%
16 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
17 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
18 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
19 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
20 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
21 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
22 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
23 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
24 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
25 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
26 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
<5%
27 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
28 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
29 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
30 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
31 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
32 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
33 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
34 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
35 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
36 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
37 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
38 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
39 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
40 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
41 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
42 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
43 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
44 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
45 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
46 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
47 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
48 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Scaup in Grand Canyon National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Scaup sighting in Grand Canyon National Park, based on 24 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Lesser Scaup in Grand Canyon National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Lesser Scaup in Grand Canyon National Park in our monthly data.

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