Lesser scaup as the reproduction rate—even if this is declining—suggests that hunting has no major impact on lesser scaup populations at present either. Also, the breeding habitat is mainly in regions little-used by humans; habitat destruction on the breeding grounds is also not considered to be problematic. Lesser scaup The lesser scaup ("Aythya affinis") is a small North American diving duck that migrates south as far as Central America in winter. It is colloquially known as the little bluebill or broadbill because of its distinctive blue bill. The origin of the name scaup may stem from the bird's preference for feeding on
Lesser scaup well as seeds and other parts of aquatic plants like sedges and bulrushes (Cyperaceae), "pondweeds", widgeon-grass ("Ruppia cirrhosa"), wild celery ("Vallisneria americana") or wild rice ("Zizania"). In winter, but less so in summer, other aquatic animals—crustacean, insect and their larvae and small fishes—form an important part of their diet. It has been reported that both the lesser and the greater scaup have shifted their traditional migration routes to take advantage of the presence of the zebra mussel ("Dreissena polymorpha") in Lake Erie, which was accidentally introduced in the 1980s and has multiplied enormously. This may pose a risk to these