scaup
1
9.9
- noun
- /skaʊp/
:
pato scaup
- scaup and redheads
- scaup and mallards
- greater scaup
Examples
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We drove a bit further down the road to the parking lot of the Burger Barge, where I saw a large raft of ruddy ducks with a few lesser scaup mixed in, but still none of my target birds.
Blog text (20) -
In the early morning, we spotted several scaup swimming gracefully across the calm lake.
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Hunters often seek out scaup during the migration season because of their unique diving behavior.
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The biologist noted that the population of scaup in the area has increased significantly this year.
Synonyms
1
7.4
A diving duck with a purplish head often seen in lakes
A diving duck from North America with a blue-grey bill that lives in lakes and near the sea
A North American diving duck with a bluish-grey bill
A small North American duck that dives for food and whose males have purple heads
A medium diving bird whose male has a purple head and a blue bill
A North American diving duck whose males have a shiny purplish head
A large North American diving duck whose male has a greenish head
A large diving duck found in North America and northern Eurasia whose males have a greenish shine on their heads
Compounds
- US
A small North American duck that dives for food and whose males have purple heads
- US
A diving duck from North America with a blue-grey bill that lives in lakes and near the sea
Surface Forms
Etymology
Scaup probably comes from a Scots or northern English name for this diving duck. A helpful way to remember it is to think of scoop ('to take up'), because these ducks dive and 'scoop' food from the water, so the name matches their behavior.