Adventures Outdoors'
IN WISCONSIN
GREATER SCAUP
(Aythya marila)
About Them
The Greater Scaup is closely related to his cousin the Lesser Scaup, but appears bigger and rounder. This quick in flight diver makes for a challenging target in flight. They are seen in Wisconsin throughout the season often wintering along the Great Lakes. Their numbers while rafted together on large inland lakes are high and along pools 8 & 9 of the Mississippi they can number in the thousands in a single raft of birds. Three quarters of the population winter in Alaska and they make long flights across Canada to their wintering grounds along the Great Lakes as well as down the Atlantic coast, and some also winter off shore of Alaska down the Pacific coast. They produce a cooing or brrrring sound as well as the Drake making soft whistles. The Hen lays an average of 9 eggs. The population is included with the Lesser Scaup but it is believed that 11% of the count is made up of Greaters. Their population has steadily declined since the 80s. Breeding population for 2001 is just over 400,000 birds an 8% decrease from 2000. Aquatic plants are their main food supply.
Description
The Drake has a dark blackish-green head and neck, dark breast, gray speckled back, with white sides and belly, and a bluish gray bill.
The Hen is a dark brown has a stained white belly and a very noticeable white patch on her face around a dark bill.
They both have white wing speculums.
SIZE
Average length = 15-20"
Average weight = 2.32lbs