Page 111 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Aythya marila
white blaze
Scaup smaller, pale rich brown head on face
face patch
broad white
wingbar
MALE
(WINTER)
FEMALE (WINTER)
JUVENILE
black head with steep pale cheeks
green gloss forehead
IN FLIGHT
yellow eye
pale grey round
white back nape
flanks
black around broad, blue- FEMALE (SUMMER)
tail grey bill with
small black tip all-dark
head
grey bars

MALE MALE (SUMMER)
(WINTER)
ypically sea ducks, Scaup regularly appear inland FLIGHT: fast and direct; looks thickset and
Tin small numbers, usually associated with Tufted powerful; fast wingbeats.
Ducks and Pochards, but similar-looking hybrids must
be ruled out. Flocks of Scaup on the sea are attractive,
if less lively than scoters or Long-tailed Ducks,
tending to fly less and to seem much more settled and
sedate on the water.They tend to prefer more
sheltered parts of outer estuaries than the broad, open,
windswept bays loved by the more energetic scoters.
Flocks are generally quite approachable.
VOICE Male lets out low whistles in display, mostly
silent otherwise; female has deep growl.
NESTING Nest lined with feathers and down, on
ground, near water; 8–11 eggs; 1 brood;April–June. FLOCK ON SEA
FEEDING Dives from surface to find invertebrates, Wintering Scaup are gregarious and swim in flocks of a few score on
waste grain, and aquatic plants. sheltered seas, with the white flanks of adult males showing up well.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Northern breeder, on wild moors
TUFTED DUCK 32; red- and tundra in Scandinavia and
2 has less white more black brown
on face; see p.110 on tip of bill head Iceland. In winter, flocks found in
regular, traditional places, mostly
black tuft
back 3 in S Baltic and North Sea, isolated
groups and individuals turning up
with Tufted Ducks inland.
POCHARD 3 Seen in the UK
similar to 3; see p.108 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 42–51cm (16 1 ⁄2 –20in) Wingspan 67–73cm (26–29in) Weight 0.8–1.3kg (1 3 ⁄4 –2 3 ⁄4lb)
Social Flocks Lifespan 10–12 years Status Localized
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