The greater scaup (Aythya marila), just scaup in Europe or, colloquially, "bluebill" in North America, [3] is a mid-sized diving duck, larger than the closely related lesser scaup and tufted duck.

Explore key field marks that separate the Lesser Scaup and Greater Scaup, including head shape, wing stripe, and subtle plumage differences.

Once Ring-necked and Tufted Ducks are out of the running, you’re left with the pair that’s toughest to tell apart: scaup. During winter, location can be a deciding factor. Greater Scaup tend to choose saltwater bodies, while Lesser Scaup are found in freshwater zones further inland.

Greater or Lesser Scaup? Here Are the Biggest Differences Between the ...

Greater scaup have a varied diet, fluctuating based on season and availability. The main food items are small bivalves, snails, crustaceans, aquatic insects, seeds, and the vegetative parts of aquatic plants.

The Greater Scaup is a medium-sized diving duck with a circumpolar breeding distribution across North America, Europe, and Asia. They are difficult to distinguish from the Lesser Scaup.

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.

Scaup, (genus Aythya), any of three species of diving ducks (family Anatidae). The greater scaup (A. marila), also called the big bluebill, breeds across Eurasia and most of the Nearctic region.

Scaups are diving ducks with a resemblance to tufted ducks. Only a handful breed in the UK every year, making them our rarest breeding ducks. Find out more.