Scaup - Aythya marila

Scaup are diving ducks with a very strong resemblance to Tufted Ducks.

The adult breeding male Scaup has a head which looks black but actually has a green gloss and is more rounded than in Tufted Duck and also lacks the crest. They have white flanks, (like Tufted Duck), but can easily be distinguished by the grey back.

Adult breeding females are brown and are best identified by the white patch around the base of the bill which is bolder and more striking than on any female Tufted Duck.

Autumn juveniles are often all dark brown with rust-brown flanks and sometimes have a less conspicuous white area around the base of the bill.

In flight Scaup look much like Tufted Ducks - very dark but with broad white wing bars, but the greyer back of the male Scaup should be easily seen.

Hybrid Scaup x Tufted Duck occur and are recorded virtually annually in VC55.

Tundra lakes, on migration open lakes & coasts. Breeds by moorland pools and lakes. Winters in estuaries, coastal bays and inland lakes.

Mainly in winter, from late October to March.

Birds breed on mountain lakes and coasts in Scandinavia, Iceland and north Russia, wintering in coastal habitat along the coasts of Denmark, Holland, France and the UK. Other birds go to the western part of the Baltic or the Black Sea.

Rare breeder - one to five pairs but 9,000 birds overwinter

Uncommon winter and passage visitor with the majority of records from Rutland Water and Eyebrook Reservoir.