Greater Scaup

Aythya marila

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

41-51 cm (16-20") Locally common. Large open lakes, bays. Diving duck.

Male: dark head may show greenish gloss; pale bluish-gray bill; black breast and rear end; white sides; gray back. Best told from male Lesser Scaup by more rounded head and slightly larger bill. In flight, white belly and underwings contrast with black breast and black undertail coverts; bold white wing stripe extends to wing tips.

Female: dark brown overall, darker on back than sides. White patch encircles face at base of bluish bill. Best told from female Lesser Scaup by more rounded head and slightly larger bill. In flight, white belly and underwings; bold white wing stripe extends to wing tips.

Song: usually silent, croaking and whistles, quack or "scaup".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

3 photos

Credit: Len Blumin

Credit: Chuq Von Rospach

Credit: Teddy Llovet

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

greater scaup

Credit: John Chapple

Greater Scaup female

Credit: Gary Shugart

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Greater Scaup (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 3

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:751-greater-scaup-female:1:1 Source: 751 Greater Scaup (Female), row 1

Greater Scaup (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 3

In FLIGHT did the bird display a LIGHT WING STRIPE or PATCH ?: Yes · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Green · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:750-greater-scaup-male:1:1 Source: 750 Greater Scaup (Male), row 1