Lesser Scaup

Aythya affinis

Regular vagrant from North America with 200 records for Britain & 50 records for Ireland, mostly in October-March period.

Breeds in North & Central North America.

Winters south to Northern South America.

Males have a black, iridescent head and a small tuft at the hindcrown, a black breast, a whitish-grey back, wings with darker vermiculations and black outer and greyish-brown inner primary remiges.

The underparts are white with some olive vermiculations on the flanks, and the rectrices and tail coverts are black. 

Females have a white band at the base of the bill and often a lighter ear region, and are otherwise dark brown all over, shading to white on the mid-belly.