Lesser Scaup
Lesser ScaupLesser ScaupLesser ScaupLesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Saguaro National Park
1,448 Verified sightings at Saguaro National Park From 2019 to 2026
11,895 Verified sightings across all 71 parks From 2019 to 2026
January 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 Saguaro National Park

Ring-necked Duck
LC

Ring-necked Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya collaris

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Redhead
LC

Redhead

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya americana

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Canvasback
LC

Canvasback

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya valisineria

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Greater Scaup
LC

Greater Scaup

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya marila

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
American Wigeon
LC

American Wigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca americana

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Northern Shoveler
LC

Northern Shoveler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula clypeata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Ruddy Duck
LC

Ruddy Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oxyura jamaicensis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Cinnamon Teal
LC

Cinnamon Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula cyanoptera

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

Common Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas crecca

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Northern Pintail
LC

Northern Pintail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas acuta

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Gadwall
LC

Gadwall

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca strepera

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

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 Daily sighting probability
1 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~60%
2 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
3 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
4 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~20%
5 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~20%
6 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
7 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
8 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
9 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
10 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
11 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
12 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
~10%
13 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
14 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
15 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
16 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
17 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
18 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
19 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
20 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
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 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
27 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
28 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
29 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
<5%
30 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
31 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
32 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
33 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
34 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
35 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
36 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
37 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
38 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
39 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<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 Cabo Pulmo National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
57 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
58 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
59 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
60 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
61 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
Insufficient data
62 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
63 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
64 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
65 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
66 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
67 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
68 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
69 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
70 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
71 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data

Quick answers

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

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Scaup sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 1,448 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

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

January has the highest sighting rate for Lesser Scaup in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.

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