At this time of year, most ducks are readily identified based on size, plumage, behavior, voice, and/or habitat. Often in flocks with other Aythya ducks. Body sides and belly are white with indistinct grey vermiculations. At this time of year, most ducks are readily identified based on size, plumage, behavior, voice, and/or habitat. In flight Great Scaup, top image and Lesser Scaup - bottom image. Save Comp. Very similar to Lesser Scaup; note smoothly rounded head without tall peak, puffier cheeks, more extensive white stripe on wing in flight, and larger, broader bill. The diet includes aquatic insects and plants. The shape of the head is more distinctive in these two images than the amount of white in the wings. Very similar to Lesser Scaup; note smoothly rounded head without tall peak, puffier cheeks, more extensive white stripe on wing in flight, and larger, broader bill. They congregate by the hundreds and thousands along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts during winter. The Greater Scaup adult male in breeding plumage has black head and neck with green or purplish iridescence.
The female is dull brown with a white patch on the face at base of bill. Often in flocks with other Aythya ducks. Lower mantle, back and scapulars appear pale grey, but at close range, we can see white and black vermiculations, becoming darker on lower back. Habitat, range, and season may help differentiate between the two species, as well as using a field guide and working with experienced observers. The female is dull brown with a white patch on the face at base of bill. The Greater Scaup has a larger bill with a more pronounced nail (tip of the bill) than the Lesser Scaup. At Rest Flocks of scaup are often seen at rest, with their heads tucked in. In breeding plumage the male has a black head with iridescent dark green, and a black breast. More stock photos from this artist See All. Greater Scaup Aythya m. marila, M F Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula, M (centre) BIF2068, 02/01/2018, Rerik, Germany, Roland Neumann – M of Tufted Duck and Greater Scaup are readily identified when upperside is visible – white wingbar in both species fades to grey towards wingtip. GREATER SCAUP BY PIERRE DEVICHE, PHOENIX, AZ 85048, DEVICHE@ASU.EDU Winter in Arizona is the season to search for and study the many northern-breeding ducks that overwinter in this region. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Greater Scaup: This large diving duck has a glossy green-black head, white sides and belly, black tail, neck and breast, barred gray flanks and back. The only circumpolar diving duck, the Greater Scaup breeds across the tundra regions in North America and Europe. It has a rapid direct flight with strong, quick wing beats. The eyes are yellow and the bill is blue-gray with a black tip. The more northerly of our two scaup species, the Greater is also found across northern Europe and Asia. Both have a distinctive blue bill, which gives rise to a name commonly used by hunters—the blue bill. The eyes are yellow and the bill is blue-gray with a black tip. Females are brown with a large white patch at the base of the bill. Here, black-and-white males and chocolatey-brown females bob along on the waves. GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila) – (See images below) DESCRIPTION: The Greater scaup is a diving duck of medium size. Find the perfect scaup duck flying stock photo. Greater scaup drake flying at eye level. GREATER SCAUP BY PIERRE DEVICHE, PHOENIX, AZ 85048, DEVICHE@ASU.EDU Winter in Arizona is the season to search for and study the many northern-breeding ducks that overwinter in this region. Greater scaup occasionally are observed during winter in Central America and the Caribbean. Lesser scaup are often hard to distinguish from the greater scaup when direct comparison is not possible, but in North America a large scaup flock will often have both species present. The diet includes aquatic insects and plants. Greater scaup make extensive flights across the boreal forests of Canada prior to reaching their wintering grounds along the Atlantic coast and the Great Lakes, or migrate offshore from Alaska to their wintering grounds along the Pacific Coast. This is, however, often not the case for Lesser and Greater Scaups (Aythya affinis and … It has a rapid direct flight with strong, quick wing beats. Upper mantle, rump and uppertail-coverts are black.
Habitat. The sides are white and the back is finely striated black and white. Seen in flight, the white on the wings of the Greater Scaup extends into the primaries, where it is gray on the Lesser Scaup. This is, however, often not the case for Lesser and Greater Scaups (Aythya affinis and … Telling the two scaup apart requires a close look at the head shape, and, in flight, the wing stripe. No need to register, buy now! Greater Scaup In Flight. Male greater scaup are easily recognized by their white sides and black heads. No need to register, buy now!
Females, juveniles and drakes in eclipse plumage are hard to identify; there is considerable overlap in length between the two species, but greater scaup are usually noticeably more bulky.
Can be similar to immature male and female Tufted Duck, but note smoothly rounded head and more extensive white bill base patch in females. The under parts are white.
The female has a dark brown head with some white around the bill, and a brown body.