Photo: Chuck Homler d/b/a Focus On Wildlife / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Greater Scaup
Aythya marila
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Aythya
- Species marila
Where it lives
Subarctic Iceland and Scandinavia to Kamchatka and the Commander Is. (southeastern Russia); Alaska to northern Quebec
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Greater Scaup hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Greater Scaup is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL subarctic Iceland and Scandinavia to Kamchatka and the Commander Is. (se Russia); Alaska to n Quebec.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1 kg, with a wing length of about 21.4 cm and a tail of around 5.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 11.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Greater Scaup?
The Greater Scaup is a very large bird that weighs around 1 kg.
Where does the Greater Scaup live?
The Greater Scaup is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL subarctic Iceland and Scandinavia to Kamchatka and the Commander Is. (se Russia); Alaska to n Quebec, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Greater Scaup belong to?
The Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Greater Scaup eat?
The Greater Scaup hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Greater Scaup migrate?
The Greater Scaup is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Greater Scaup endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Greater Scaup make?
1 real field recording of the Greater Scaup — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Greater Scaup's range?
The Greater Scaup has a mapped global range of about 11.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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