Aythya affinis (lesser scaup)

The Lesser Scaup looks very similar to the Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) which has yet to be identified in the park, but which is much rarer on area lakes and reservoirs. There are a surprising number of records for this duck in the park, as it favors open bays and lakes. This species may be more common during migration in the reservoirs along the park's southwestern boundary than is reported.

Many records are of injured birds or those caught in an early season storm, but a flock of 32 remained on the sewage treatment ponds in Cades Cove for several weeks in November, 1991. Spring dates range from March 17 to April 28 and fall dates range from October 29 to November 30 (Stupka 1963).

References:
Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.
Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.

TAXA LINKS

Main Taxonomy Page

Kingdom:
Animalia

Phylum:
Chordata

Class:
Aves

Order:
Anseriformes

Family:
Anatidae

Elevation Distribution:
Phenology

Park Sensitive Species? No

Taxon Authority:
(Eyton)

Information Page for Aythya affinis (lesser scaup)

References:Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.

References:
Stupka, A. 1963. Notes on the Birds of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville.
Gough, G. A., Sauer, J. R., Iliff, M. Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter. 1998. Version 97.1. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.