Species BirdsGreater Scaup

Greater Scaup

Aythya marila

CommonBird
Illustration of Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)

The Greater Scaup is a large diving duck that winters on coastal bays in enormous rafts. Separating it from the Lesser Scaup is one of the most challenging identification problems in North American birding; the Greater has a rounder head profile and more extensive white on the wing stripe. It dives deep for mollusks in coastal bays.

Habitat
Large coastal bays, Great Lakes, and deep inland lakes in winter
Diet
Mollusks and aquatic invertebrates
How common
Common

Recent Greater Scaup sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Greater Scaup? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.

Get Huck — free

More birds

Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
American Avocet
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
American Bittern
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
American Black Duck
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
American Coot
American Coot
Fulica americana
American Crow
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Flamingo
American Flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
American Golden-Plover
American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica