Greater Scaup

Aythya marila

Slightly bigger, slightly rounder, slightly farther north. The same duck after a thyroid test.

Population: approx. 4.9–5.2 million mature individuals globally (decreasing trend since the 1980s)
Habitat: Breeds on small, shallow freshwater lakes, pools, and rivers with grassy/marshy shorelines in Arctic tundra and moorland; winters on coastal waters less than 10 m deep, sheltered bays, estuaries, and inland lakes/reservoirs (e.g. the Great Lakes)
Fun fact: The Greater Scaup is the only truly circumpolar diving duck species; the oldest known banded individual was ringed in 1988 and recaptured in 2007, indicating a lifespan of at least 20 years.
Range: Circumpolar breeding distribution within the Arctic Circle across Iceland, Scandinavia, northern Russia/Siberia, the Aleutians, Alaska, and northern Canada; winters along coasts of Europe (incl. Adriatic and Black Seas), eastern Asia (to southeast China), and North America (Pacific coast, Great Lakes, Atlantic coast to Florida)
Diet: Primarily aquatic molluscs, aquatic plants, and insects/invertebrates obtained by diving to depths of 0.5–6 m (exceptionally to 10 m); crustaceans and other invertebrates in summer, seeds/leaves/stems/roots of aquatic vegetation in freshwater habitats
Size: 0.475 m
Wingspan: 0.775 m
Lifespan: 20.4 years

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