Lesser Scaup Similar Species Comparison

Main SpeciesLesser Scaup

Male

Medium-sized diving duck with a tall, peaked head. Glossy black head, front, and rear with a gray back and white sides. Head is purplish-iridescent, but is only visible with ideal lighting.

Female

Medium-sized diving duck with a tall, peaked head and a fairly straight bill. Females are rich brown overall, with a darker head and white patch next to the bill. Note that the back of the head is flat.

Breeding male

Found on lakes and ponds during migration and winter. Note the peaked head and that the back of the head is flat.

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Male

All plumages have a white wing stripe that extends halfway along the wing (through the secondaries), but usually does not reach the primary feathers.

Immature male

Nonbreeding males have a dark head with a yellow eye. The body is mottled brown-gray.

Female

Medium-sized diving duck with a peaked head and a smallish straight bill. Females can show only small amounts of white on the face like this individual. They acquire yellow eyes with age.

Female

Medium-sized diving duck with a peak to the back of the head (inconspicuous in some postures), and head that is often darker than body. Can be very difficult to tell from Greater Scaup.