Greater Scaup

Why in news?

• A rare species of duck, Greater Scaup, locally known as Sadangman, was recently sighted in Loktak Lake in Manipur after a gap of over 90 years.

About Greater Scaup:

• The Greater Scaup is a medium-sized diving duck species that belongs to the family of Anatidae.
• They are highly migratory, breeding near arctic regions (Alaska, Siberia, and the northern parts of Europe) in summer and migrating to the warmer south from August onwards.
• The species is distributed in Asia, Europe, the United States and Canada. It is a rare visitor to the Indian Subcontinent.
• They mainly eat molluscs, aquatic plants, and aquatic insects

Habitat:

• The summer habitat is marshy lowland tundra and islands in fresh water lakes
• During the winter months, they are found in coastal bays, estuaries, and sometimes inland lakes.

Add ons:

• Conservation status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least concern

PRACTICE QUESTION

With reference to ‘Greater Scaup’, recently seen in news, consider the following statements:

1. They are non-migratory species

2. They are herbivorous

3. Their habitat is restricted to tropical regions

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) None of the above

Answer