Greater Scaup

The greater scaup is a diving duck that is found along large bodies of water and the coast. Greater Scaups are a circumpolar species and nest near water.

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Scientific Classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Aythya
Scientific Name:	Aythya Marila

Table Of Content

Table of Contents

Scientific Classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Aythya
Scientific Name:	Aythya Marila

Table of Contents

This species of birds are challenging to identify because of their similarities to the lesser scaup.

Greater Scaup

Common Names

Scaup (British English)
Fuligule Milouinan (French)
Porron Bastardo (Spanish)

Physical Description

Length: Greater scaups measure 18-20 inches in length

Weight: Average weight of a male scaup is 2.3 lbs. Female weigh around 2.1 lbs.

Bill: Their bill is long and light blue in color, with black tip

Color: Females are dull brown in color with a white patch on their face as well as at the bottom of the bill.

Feathers: Their feathers are glossy black in color and the inferior flanks are gray in color

Head: Male scaup’s has a shady head with a green gloss, black breast and black tail

Habitat

They prefer breeding on marshy, lowland areas in summer and in winter they are seen gathering in coastal bays, lagoons, as well as estuaries. Greater scaup like open and exposed areas so that they can move freely from one place to another.

Greater Scaup Picture

Distribution

The Greater Scaup has circumpolar distribution. They breed in the Arctic Circle as well as in North America. Scaups are spotted in Alaska, Europe and Siberia during the summer months. Sometimes they are also seen in some parts of Asia.

Diet

Greater scaups feed on mollusks, insects, and aquatic plants. During summer, they prefer eating aquatic crustaceans. Scaups can also swallow leopard frogs which they drag out of freshwater ponds. They are capable of diving up to 6 meters deep in search of food.

Behavior

They are social birds forming large colonies, especially during migration
Scaups are quiet birds, they don’t make sounds frequently until and unless they are threatened by predators
Male scaups use soft whistle to attract female scaups

Predators

Greater scaups are often attacked by owls, foxes, raccoons, and coyotes.

They are hunted by humans and also often get entangled in fishing nets.

Adaptations

Their adaptive features help them survive in their natural habitat:

Their long bill allows them to siphon food from the rivers, ponds and estuaries.
Scaups are fast swimmers and can dive up to 6 meters.
Their long stretched wings allow them to fly relatively fast.
Greater Scaup Flying

Flight

Greater scaups fly with strong rapid wing beats. Their tapered shape wings allows them fly long distances without stopping for rest.

Calls

These diving ducks are named because of their mating call “scaup scaup”. Males have a raspy-arrr-arrr-arr-arr-arr” sounding vocalization.

Mating Season

Their mating season starts from late winter and continues till early spring.

Breeding

They prefer breeding on ponds, lakes, as well as in beaches. Scaups are monogamous in nature and their courtship process is quite complex. Their nests are built by the females. After laying eggs, the drakes leave the females. The female scaups lay 6-9 eggs. She incubates them for 24-28 days.

Life cycle

Newly born chicks are covered with down. The chicks are precocial. They are very fast learner and soon become capable of swimming and walking alone. But they are not capable of flying before they are 40-45 days old. The vulnerable chicks go after their mother who defends them from all types of dangers, especially from predators.