The greater scaup (Aythya marila), often known as the smaller scaup and commonly referred to as the “bluebill” in North America, is a medium-sized diving duck.
Fun Facts
- Sometimes, an older female Greater Scaup will have a head colour similar to a male’s and a pattern similar to a male’s on her back, but she will still have the recognizable white facial patch of a female.
- When incubation starts, the male Greater Scaup separates from the female and travels to a relatively sizable, remote lake with enough of food and cover to molt. These lakes, which may be nearby the breeding wetlands or kilometers away, are used each year throughout the molt process.
Description
Male greater scaup also have a bigger, rounder cranium than male lesser scaup. Glossy black on the neck, breast, and upper mantle contrasts with the white flanks and belly, which may have grey vermiculations on the lower flanks. A large white speculum covers the entire wing and continues into the primaries. In contrast, the white in lesser scaup is only present on the speculum. The bigger scaup has a lighter blue-gray bill and a black nail, which are both larger than those of the lesser scaup. The iris is yellow, while the legs and feet are grey. Greater scaup females have white circular patches around their bills and are brown in colour. The legs and feet of the female are grey, and her bill resembles the males but is a little duller.
Diet
Mostly composed of plants and mollusks. Winter food is primarily composed of mollusks including mussels, clams, oysters, and snails.
Habitat
Breeds in treeless wetlands with shallow lakes and ponds in the arctic. Look for Greater Scaup in coastal bays, lakes, and reservoirs during the winter.
As Pet
A medium-sized wild diving duck, the larger scaup is called. Therefore, some bird species are unsuitable as pets.
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