Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup can both be found in the Montreal region during migration. Once you find them, you will need to look very closely as they are extremely difficult to tell apart.
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
The male of the Greater Scaup has a rounder head with a more violet colour than the Lesser Scaup.
Greater Scaup stage on lakes and rivers in southern Quebec during migration where it can be seen in large rafts on Lac St. Louis, Lac St. Pierre and Lac St. Francois. This is especially evident in April, October and November.
This handsome duck breeds along the coasts of James Bay and Hudson Bay in the forest tundra, where it nests in loose colonies. It feeds on mollusks, scallops and aquatic plants while the ducklings feed on the surface and eat insects, larvae and seeds. It is an excellent swimmer and can dive to depths of over six metres. It can stay under water for up to a minute searching for food.
The numbers of Greater and Lesser Scaup have slowly been declining since the 1980’s, possibly because of habitat loss. Its behaviour of gathering in large concentrations on its wintering grounds also makes it vulnerable to oil spills.
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
The head of the Lesser Scaup is more greenish in colour than the Greater Scaup and its sides are less white. It breeds in southern Quebec as well as central and northern Quebec. Striped skunks and the American Crow predate the nests.Lesser Scaup can sometimes be seen mixed in with Greater Scaup in large rafts during migration. It is found only in the New World.
