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Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis

General Status Rank:

Sensitive

ELCODE:

ABNJB11070

Common Name:

Lesser Scaup

Scientific Name:

Aythya affinis

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Taxonomy

Group:

Bird

Kingdom:

Animalia

Phylum:

Chordata

Class:

Aves

Order:

Anseriformes

Family:

Anatidae

References:

General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

1

References:

Longevity

average age unknown, oldest known male was 18.25 years

References:

Economic/Human Considerations

important to sport hunters in southern Canada and US

References:

Habitat

interior freshwater

References:

Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains

References:

Distribution

0.34 or more (B004); ~85% of total NWT area. Range extent visually estimated from range map in "Distribution of birds in NWT & Nunavut: 2009 Review" (CWS).

Score:

G

References:

Winter Distribution Description:

southern BC, Great Lakes, US to South America

Number of Occurrences

dispersed breeder

References:

Historical Distribution

unknown, but possibly similar to present

References:

Area of Occupancy

unknown, prob stable

Score:

-

References:

Population

Population Size

1.7 million scaup spp. in NWT in 2014 (data from 2014 USFWS waterfowl breeding surveys, strata 13-18 (W119 accessed Feb 10, 2015)). LESC make up ~85% of the continental scaup population (B999.); ~1.4 million in NWT.

Score:

H

References:

Density

dispersed breeder

Trends

Trends

population declines have occurred for LESC since the early 90's and continue to decline (R265); Declines to scaup have been the most severe in the northwest boreal forest region including large portions of the NWT (USFWS survey strata 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 77)

Score:

EF

References:

Threats

Threats

potential over-hunting, habitat loss, drought, pollution on wintering grounds and migration stops

Score:

A

References:

Intrinsic Vulnerability

In north, pollution, development, global climate change

Score:

-

References:

General Status Rank

Rank:

Sensitive

Status Rank Description:

Declines to scaup have been the most severe in the northwest boreal forest region including large portions of the NWT

S Rank:

S3

Decision Process Description:

Drafted by Jim Hines with review by S. Carriere, mostly based on printed material in 2000, Reviewed in 2005 by J. Hines and C. Swoboda based on printed literature only, no change in status; Reviewed in 2010;no change ; Reviewed by Ian Fife and Cindy Wood CWS in 2015, no change

Last Updated:

February 17, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

Area of Occupancy

Zimpfer, Nathan L., Walter E. Rhodes, Emily D. Silverman, Guthrie S. Zimmerman, and Ken D. Richkus. (2014) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Administrative Report July 2, 2014. http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/Newreportspublications/PopulationStatus/Trends/2014%20Trends%20in%20Breeding%20Duck%20Populations.pdf - R265 Return
Anteau, Michael J., Jean-Michel DeVink, David N. Koons, Jane E. Austin, Christine M. Custer and Alan D. Afton. 2014. (2014) The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/338 - W120 Return

Economic Status

Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

Ecozones

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return

Historical Distribution

Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return
Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return

Longevity

Clapp, R. B., Klimkiewicz, M. K., Kennard, J. H. (1982) Longevity records of North American birds: Gaviidae through Alcidae. Journal of Field Ornithology 53: 81–124 - CS11 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

Number of Occurrences

Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return

Population Size

Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

,

USFWS (2014) Accessed by CWS Region (Ian Fife and Cindy Wood) February 2015 https://migbirdapps.fws.gov/mbdc/databases/mas/maydb.asp - W119 Return

Range Extent

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Short Term Trends

Zimpfer, Nathan L., Walter E. Rhodes, Emily D. Silverman, Guthrie S. Zimmerman, and Ken D. Richkus. (2014) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Administrative Report July 2, 2014. http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/Newreportspublications/PopulationStatus/Trends/2014%20Trends%20in%20Breeding%20Duck%20Populations.pdf - R265 Return
Anteau, Michael J., Jean-Michel DeVink, David N. Koons, Jane E. Austin, Christine M. Custer and Alan D. Afton. 2014. (2014) The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Retrieved http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/338 - W120 Return

Taxonomy

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return
Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 Return