Greater Scaup

Aythya marila (Linnaeus, 1761)

Greater Scaup, Aythya marila, is a duck that breeds in North America and across the Palearctic, from subarctic Iceland and Scandinavia to Kamchatka and the Commander Islands, with Alaska to northern Quebec also included. In the nonbreeding season it moves to coasts in north-western and eastern Europe, the Black and Caspian seas, Japan and the Korean Peninsula to eastern China and Taiwan, central California, the Great Lakes and North Carolina. It is a diving duck, and the male has a light blue-grey bill, yellow eyes, a dark head and a white wing stripe.

Order

Anseriformes

Family

Anatidae — Ducks, Geese, Swans

Breeding range

North America, Palearctic: subarctic Iceland and Scandinavia to Kamchatka and the Commander Is. (se Russia); Alaska to n Quebec

Nonbreeding range

to coasts of nw, ec Europe (e North Atlantic); Black and Caspian seas; Japan and Korean Pen. to e China and Taiwan (w North Pacific); c California (e North Pacific), Great Lakes, North Carolina (w North Atlantic)