Greater Scaup

The Greater Scaup, often called a “bluebill,” is a diving duck that is seen throughout Puget Sound and surrounding waters. Males display a glossy green head, light gray back, and bright blue bill, while females are brown with a distinctive white patch at the base of the bill. These social birds dive repeatedly for mollusks and aquatic vegetation, creating lively hunting opportunities.

Greater Scaup are included under Washington’s general duck limits and are abundant during the peak of winter migration.  Washington allows the successful harvest of two scaup a day between the greater and lesser scaup.  While scaup have a more limited season than that of every other duck, they are available for harvest after the first couple weeks of the early season until the end of the regular duck season. They are fast flyers that decoy well when set up in mixed spreads with other diving ducks. Their bold coloring and strong presence make them a staple of late-season hunts and a favorite among Pacific Northwest waterfowlers.