Diet
The greater scaup dives for mollusks,
seeds, leaves, stems, roots, and tubers of aquatic plants. It returns to the surface of the water to eat its food.
Life Cycle
Male and female pairs form in
late winter or early spring. The female lays 5-13 eggs in a depression in the ground lined with grass and down. Nests are usually located close to the water or on an island and are usually well-hidden by vegetation. The male leaves when the female begins to incubate the eggs. The female incubates the eggs for 23-28 days. The chicks are
precocial. Shortly after hatching the female leads them to water where they feed themselves. The ducklings fledge when they are 40-45 days old.
Behavior
The greater scaup usually gathers in
large rafts, sometimes containing thousands of birds.
The greater scaup gets its name from the
"scaup scaup" call it makes. It is also sometimes called the "blue-bill."
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