THE LESSER SCAUP. 



ALLAN BROOKS. 



Few ducks are so closely allied as the 

 2 species of scaup, more generally known 

 as blackheads or bluebills. When ex- 

 amples of both species are laid side by 

 side, the much larger and broader bill of 

 the greater scaup is conspicuous, as well 

 as the larger size of the whole bird ; but 

 the infallible distinction between the 2 

 species is the pattern of the wing. In the 



treme Northern rim of the Continent. It 

 has a decidedly more Southern range in 

 the breeding season than its larger rela- 

 tive, breeding West of the Rockies, as far 

 South as latitude 52 degrees. 



In habits the 2 are much alike, though 

 the smaller species shows a decided pref- 

 erence for smaller bodies of water, more 

 often being found on fresh water lakes and 



THE LESSER SCAUP. AYTHYA AFFINIS. 



larger species the white bar on the sec- 

 ondaries is continued on the outer webs 

 of 6 of the primaries, or long flight feath- 

 ers ; while these are entirely grayish in the 

 lesser scaup, the white being confined to 

 the secondaries. Even in flight this will 

 serve to distinguish the lesser scaup. The 

 white wing bar of the greater scaup appears 

 to extend nearly the whole length of the 

 wing. 



The head of the adult male is glossed 

 with violet in the lesser and green in the 

 greater scaup, but really perfect specimens 

 showing this character to good advantage 

 are seldom seen, especially in fall, when 

 most duck shooting is done. 



The lesser scaup is found throughout 

 North America, except, perhaps, the ex- 



ponds than on the sea coast and estuaries. 

 Scaup prefer to seek their food in water 

 about 10 feet deep, though capable of 

 reaching the bottom at much greater 

 depths. As a rule, they do most of their 

 feeding in the daytime, resting toward 

 night in large, densely packed flocks, gen- 

 erally known as rafts or beds ; but 

 where frequenting salt water they feed ac- 

 cording to the tides. In the gray of the 

 morning they are especially active and 

 noisy. The cry of both species is very like 

 the long drawn meow of a kitten. They 

 also utter a harsh croak. 



The lesser scaup is a late breeder, lay- 

 ing its eggs in some tussock of marsh 

 grass close to the water, late in June, 

 when its congeners, the canvasbacks and 



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