Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) is in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans family (Anatidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 14,379 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in February.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Greater Scaup: observations by month (U.S.)
About Greater Scaup
The greater scaup (Aythya marila), 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.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Greater Scaup by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,485 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Illinois | 1,149 | February | Dec–Mar |
| New York | 1,051 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Alaska | 717 | June | May–Jul |
| Washington | 669 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Texas | 645 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Maryland | 531 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Oregon | 460 | March | Oct–May |
| Florida | 420 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Massachusetts | 420 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 338 | February | Dec–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 331 | February | Feb–Apr |
| Michigan | 311 | February | Dec–Apr |
| New Jersey | 291 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Ohio | 285 | February | Dec–Apr |
| Virginia | 178 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Connecticut | 177 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Minnesota | 136 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Colorado | 135 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 128 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Vermont | 127 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Arizona | 112 | January | Nov–Mar |
| North Carolina | 99 | January | Dec–Mar |
| Oklahoma | 98 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Tennessee | 91 | February | Dec–Feb |
| Delaware | 86 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Maine | 68 | December | Nov–Apr |
| Alabama | 62 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Indiana | 61 | February | Dec–Apr |
| Louisiana | 61 | January | Nov–Jan |
| Utah | 59 | April | Oct–Apr |
| South Carolina | 57 | January | Dec–Feb |
| Wyoming | 48 | May | May–Sep |
| New Mexico | 46 | November | Nov–Mar |
| Kansas | 43 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Georgia | 40 | December | Dec–Mar |
| Idaho | 40 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Nebraska | 39 | March | Mar–Apr |
| West Virginia | 38 | March | Jan–Mar |
| New Hampshire | 37 | February | Jan–Mar |
| Montana | 31 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Mississippi | 28 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Kentucky | 23 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Arkansas | 21 | February | Dec–Feb |
| South Dakota | 21 | January | Nov–May |
| Hawaii | 17 | November | Nov–Jan |
| Iowa | 17 | March | Mar–Mar |
| Missouri | 17 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Nevada | 15 | February | Nov–Jun |
| North Dakota | 12 | May | Apr–Jun |
| District of Columbia | 8 | January | Jan–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
Mallard
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Bufflehead
American Wigeon
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Duck
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Greater Scaup?
Nationally, February has the most observations, with the main season from November to April.
Where is Greater Scaup most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Illinois, New York.