Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis

f6.7 @ 1/3200s, ISO:1000, Nikon D3S w 500mm and 1.7X tele-converter

\"Lesser Scaup,\" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.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. The adult males (drakes) in alternate plumage have a black, effervescent head and a small tuft at the hindcrown, a black breast, a whitish-grey back and wings with darker vermiculations and black outer and greyish-brown inner primary remiges. The underparts are white with some olive vermiculations on the flanks, and the rectrices and tail coverts are black.

Burnaby Lake, British Columbia, Canada

03/09/2013