General Description: Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) are small, sexually dimorphic pond ducks. Males have white sides, and otherwise are black. The bill is bluish and uniform in color (compare with Ring-necked Duck). Females are mottled brown overall with white around the dark bill. In flight, both genders show white on the trailing half of the secondaries (primaries are all black; again, compare with Ring-necked Duck).

Taxonomy: Anseriformes, Anatidae, Anatinae

Favored Habitat: Inland ponds and marshes.

Where to Find: Lesser Scaup are not common around Las Vegas, but look for them at the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, the Pahranagat Valley, and the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

Comments: Difficult to tell from Greater Scaup. Lesser Scaup are more likely to be seen around Las Vegas because they tend to be more inland than Greater Scaup. Lesser Scaup males may show a purple gloss on the head, whereas Greater Scaup mostly show a green gloss. Lesser Scaup have a bit of a peaked head (more flat on the back of the head), whereas the head of a Greater Scaup is more rounded.