Lesser Scaup Duck iAytkya affims) 



By Lynds Jones 

 Synonyms. — Lesser Scaut; Little ]^)Lackhead ; Bluebjll. etc. 



Description. — Adult male: Similar to preceding but smaller; the head not 

 glossed with green, — violet or purplish instead. Adult female: Distinguishable 

 from that of A. marila only by smaller size. Length 15.00-17.00 (381.-431.8) : 

 wing 8.00 (203.2 ) ; tail 2.30 (58.4) ; bill 1.65 (41.9) ; tarsus 1.40 (35.6). 



Recognition ^larks. — See preceding species ; smaller. 



Nesting. — Not certainly known to breed in Ohio. Xcst and Eggs, like those 

 of preceding species. Av. size of eggs, 2.25 x 1.58 (57.2 x 40.1). 



General Range. — North America in general breeding chiefly north of the 

 United States, migrating south to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



A CAREFUL enumeration of the ducks would probably prove this "Little 

 Black-head,*' or "Little Blue-bill'' as he is known to the hunters, the most nu- 

 merous of all our ducks. It is certainly true that more individuals of this 

 species are seen on our rivers, ponds, reservoirs and lakes than any other ducks. 

 They are wary and wide awake where danger may threaten, but on the Oberlin 

 water-works reserv^oir, which lies within the village residence section, they are 

 not usually disturbed at the presence of people standing all about the embank- 

 ment on Sundays. During the season of migration they rarely occur singly, 

 but in flocks of from five to over a hundred individuals. 



Early in the season, during early April, most flocks contain a smaller num- 

 ber of females than males, but near the close of the migrations the females 

 predominate. The early flocks contain about twenty per cent of females, the 

 later ones not more than that percent of males. I have never yet seen a flock 

 wholly composed of one sex. Often other ducks associate with the Scaups on 

 the smaller ponds, particularly the Greater Scaups, but in flight the tendency 

 is strong for each species to go its own way alone. 



Since the Scaups are sea and bay ducks, they are excellent divers, and 

 feed well below the surface of the water. While they remain upon the Oberlin 

 water-works reservoir there is not so much fishing as resting. Apparently 

 the flocks have learned that the place is secure from danger, because .small flocks 

 remain for hours passively floating upon the water with the head turned back, 

 resting upon the shoulders. They scarcely even notice the passing trains, nor 

 people upon the embankment. The purplish-black head and neck, and black breast 

 of the males contrasts strongly with the almost pure white sides and wing specu- 

 lum. Often the bluish bill shows white in reflections, making the head appear 

 cut away in front. The plain brownish-drab females are often puzzling to many 

 people, but the white patch at the base of the bill should be a mark for certain 

 identification, even if there should be no males present in the flock. 



For three summers a pair of these birds has made its nest in the vicinity 



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