Greater Scaup
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Aythya marila
Scarce & declining Winter Visitor mostly on the North, North West & North East Coasts with 5,000 from September-March.
Breeds in Iceland & Northern North America.
Males have a dark head with a green to purple sheen, a black breast, a light back, a black tail, and a white underside.
The drake's belly and flanks are a bright white.
The upper wing has a white stripe starting as the speculum and extending along the flight feathers to the wingtip.
Females have a brown body and head, with white wing markings similar to those of the male but slightly duller.
It has a white band and brown oval shaped patches at the base of the bill, which is a duller shade of blue than the Drake's.
Juveniles look similar to Adult Females.