Lesser Scaup:
Two species of scaup live in North America. The Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) prefers salt water and is found in America and Eurasia, while the Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) prefers freshwater and is found only in North America.
|
The origin of the name "scaup" is unknown. In 1896, Thomas Nuttall and Montague Chamberlain, in their "A Popular Handbook of the Ornithology of Eastern North America" wrote:
|
"... Authors differ as to the origin of the name given to these birds, some referring it to their fondness for mollusks, while others think the cry is responsible for the name, which sounds like the word "scaup", delivered by a harsh voice in a screaming tone. The cry is exceedingly discordant ..."
|
The "TheWesternIsles.co.uk" website (2009) states that the name "scaup" comes from a Scottish word "scalp" which means mussel beds, a favourite food of the Scaup duck.
|
|
|
Westmoreland Park, Portland, Oregon ...
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, male, Westmoreland Park, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken December 5, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 200z w/1.4.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, male, Westmoreland Park, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken December 5, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 200z w/1.4.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, female, Westmoreland Park, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken December 5, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 200z w/1.4.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, female, Westmoreland Park, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken December 5, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 200z w/1.4.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, female, Westmoreland Park, Portland, Oregon.
Overcast, gray, but no rain.
Image taken December 25, 2010.
Canon EOS 40d, 200z.
|
|
Columbia River near Portland International Airport ...
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, male, Columbia River near Portland International Airport.
Image taken April 16, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 300z.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, male, Columbia River near Portland International Airport.
Image taken April 16, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 300z.
|
|
... and who's the boss ??? ...
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, female (left) and male (right), Columbia River near Portland International Airport.
Image taken April 16, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 300z.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, male (left image), and Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup (right image), Columbia River near Portland International Airport.
Weather was cold with heavy winds, starting to drizzle.
Image taken February 28, 2009.
Canon EOS 40d, 400mm.
|
|
Columbia River upstream I-5 Bridge, Oregon side (Hayden Island) ...
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaups snoozing (left image), and male (right image), Columbia River upstream I-5 Bridge, Oregon side.
Cold overcast afternoon with occasional sunbreaks.
Image taken November 20, 2010.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, Columbia River upstream I-5 Bridge, Oregon side.
Cold overcast afternoon with occasional sunbreaks.
Image taken November 20, 2010.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaups in flight, Columbia River upstream I-5 Bridge, Oregon side.
Cold overcast afternoon with occasional sunbreaks.
Image taken November 20, 2010.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, male (left) and female (right), Columbia River upstream I-5 Bridge, Oregon side.
Day heavy overcast and RAIN.
Image taken November 18, 2010.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, male, Columbia River upstream I-5 Bridge, Oregon side.
Day heavy overcast and RAIN.
Image taken November 18, 2010.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
|
|
King's Pond, Vancouver, Washington ...
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lesser Scaup, male (middle right) with 3 Wood Ducks, King's Pond, Vancouver, Washington.
Late afternoon, weather was mild with heavy overcast, but no rain.
One American Coot in the background.
Image taken January 2, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300z.
|
|
Ridgefield NWR, Washington ...
|
ColumbiaRiverImages.com/Birds/Birds/lesser_scaup.html
© 2011, Lyn Topinka, EnglishRiverWebsite, All rights reserved.
Images are NOT to be downloaded from this website.
January 2010
|
|
