Scaup

Last updated February 21, 2019

Scaup is the common name for three species of diving duck:

Greater scaup, or just "scaup", Aythya marila
Lesser scaup, Aythya affinis
New Zealand scaup, Aythya novaeseelandiae

The greater scaup, just scaup in Europe or, colloquially, "bluebill" in North America, is a mid-sized diving duck, larger than the closely related lesser scaup. It spends the summer months breeding in Alaska, northern Canada, Siberia, and the northernmost reaches of Europe. During the winter, it migrates south to the coasts of North America, Europe, and Japan.

The lesser scaup is a small North American diving duck that migrates south as far as Central America in winter. It is colloquially known as the little bluebill or broadbill because of its distinctive blue bill. The origin of the name scaup may stem from the bird's preference for feeding on scalp—the Scottish word for clams, oysters, and mussels; however, some credit it to the female's discordant scaup call as the name's source. It is apparently a very close relative of the Holarctic greater scaup or "bluebill", with which it forms a superspecies. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek aithuia an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin, affinis "related to", from its resemblance to the greater scaup.

The New Zealand scaup commonly known as a black teal, is a diving duck species of the genus Aythya. It is endemic to New Zealand. In Māori it is commonly known as papango, also matapouri, titiporangi, raipo.

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