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Greater Scaup:
Two scaup species live in North America: the Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) prefers salt water and is found in America and Eurasia, while the Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) prefers freshwater and is found only in North America. The Greater Scaup breeds from Alaska to Labrador, in scattered localities across Canada, and also across northern Eurasia. He winters primarily on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts from Alaska to Baja California and from Newfoundland to Texas, and occasionally appears on the Great Lakes and other unfrozen large lakes. He also winters in Eurasia. -- Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology's "All About Birds" website, 2009
The Name:
According to Nuttall and Chamberlain (1896):
"Authors differ as to the origin of the name given to these birds, some referring it to their fondness for mollusks, while others think the cry is responsible for the name, which sounds like the word "scaup", delivered by a harsh voice in a screaming tone. The cry is exceedingly discordant."
-- Source: Thomas Nuttall and Montague Chamberlain, "A Popular Handbook of the Ornithology of Eastern North America", published in 1896
The name "Scaup" comes from a Scottish word "scalp" which means mussel beds, a favourite food of the Scaup duck.
-- Source: "TheWesternIsles.co.uk" website, 2009
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Columbia River near Portland International Airport ...
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Greater Scaup, male, Columbia River near Portland International Airport.
Weather was cold with heavy winds, starting to drizzle.
Image taken February 28, 2009.
Canon EOS 40d, 400mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Greater Scaup with "lunch" (left image), and Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup (right image), Columbia River near Portland International Airport.
Weather was cold with heavy winds, starting to drizzle.
Image taken February 28, 2009.
Canon EOS 40d, 400mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Greater Scaup, female (left) and male (right), Columbia River near Portland International Airport, Portland, Oregon.
Image taken March 4, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 200mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Greater Scaup, females, Columbia River near Portland International Airport.
Image taken March 4, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 200mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Greater Scaup, males, Columbia River near Portland International Airport.
Image taken March 4, 2009.
Canon Rebel XSi, 200mm.
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Knappa Slough, Oregon ...
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Click image to enlarge
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Greater Scaup (and others in the mix), Knappa Slough, Oregon.
Image taken February 17, 2008.
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Knappa Slough is on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, approximately 15 miles east of Astoria, and separates islands on the east side of Cathlamet Bay from mainland Oregon.
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