256 BAY, SEA OR DIVING DUCKS 



Pair on left, Greater Scaups. Pair on right, Lesser Scaups. Showing difference 

 in white on flight-feathers. 



VOICE. During the day Scaups are usually silent. The male in flight utters 

 an oft repeated, purring pbbbrpbbbr, and when startled, a loud discordant scaup. 

 Courtship voice of male is a low-toned whistle; of the female, a rattling, purring, 

 kwuh-h-h-h-h. 



LIFE STORY 



Th Lesser Scaup or "little blue-bill" is exclusively a North Ameri- 

 can species with a wide distribution across the continent. It is distinctly 

 an inland bird of the smaller lakes, ponds, and marshes, and visits the 

 sea coasts only in winter. In appearance it is very similar to its close rela- 

 tive, the Greater Scaup, from which it cannot with certainty be distin- 

 guished by the casual observer, either on the water or in flight. It has a 

 more southern breeding range, is more of an island bird than its larger 

 relative, and will average about one-quarter pound lighter; sizes and 

 weights of the two species intergrade to a great extent and "little" blue- 

 bills that are heavier than "big" blue-bills are often taken. The distinc- 

 tions between the two species are given in detail under the headings 

 "Specimen Identification" and "Field Marks," above. 



These Scaups, whether on the water or in the air, are lively, restless 

 birds. They usually fly in closely bunched flocks and the flight is erratic 

 with many twists and turns, but again, when traveling, the flight is 

 steady and they move in a broad front or continuous line. If disturbed 

 by gunners they will fly about from lake to lake, twisting and turning 

 high in the air. They are exceptionally good divers and swim for long 

 distances under water. If wounded, they are difficult to secure, as they 

 either remain down, hanging on to some aquatic weed until drowned, or 

 come up at a distance, where, with only the bill above the surface, they 

 are undetectable. They swim rapidly under water, without use of the 

 wings, which are held tightly against the sides. These Scaups are often 

 called "raft ducks" (so are other species) from their habit of collecting in 

 large dense flocks on the broader waters where, for hours at a time, they 

 rest during the day. When feeding they may be noticed frequently turn- 

 ing the head from side to side as if glancing in each direction to assure 



