greater scaup
VU

greater scaup

Aythya marila

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_scaup

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Greater scaup populations have declined dramatically across their range, with North American breeding populations dropping by over 40% since the 1980s. The species faces significant challenges from habitat degradation in both breeding and wintering areas, particularly the loss of shallow wetlands and coastal habitats essential for feeding and reproduction. Climate change is altering the timing of ice-free periods and shifting prey distributions, disrupting established migration patterns and breeding cycles.

Threat summary

Habitat

Greater scaup breed in shallow freshwater lakes, ponds, and wetlands across the boreal forests and tundra of northern North America and Eurasia. During winter, they congregate in large rafts on coastal bays, estuaries, and large inland lakes where they dive for mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic vegetation.

FRESHWATER· majorMARINE· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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Northern PintailVU

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Ruddy DuckVU

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Marbled DuckVU

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Frequently asked questions

Why is greater scaup classified as Vulnerable?
greater scaup is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Greater scaup populations have declined dramatically across their range, with North American breeding populations dropping by over 40% since the 1980s. The species faces significant challenges from habitat degradation in both breeding and wintering areas, particularly the loss of shallow wetlands and coastal habitats essential for feeding and reproduction. Climate change is altering the timing of ice-free periods and shifting prey distributions, disrupting established migration patterns and breeding cycles.
Where does greater scaup live?
greater scaup occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to greater scaup?
The main threats to greater scaup are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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