It is a diver, occupying large lakes, bays and rivers. Breeds in Canada and western America, migrates through the Great Lakes and may overwinter if open water available. Making a slow comeback from low numbers of the 1970's. One of the most common lake and river ducks, the Lesserscaup, or Bluebill, passes through Lake Huron in huge numbers. The female is all brown, with the same bill, and with a semi-circular white crescent just behind the bill.
Greater scaups are larger, have rounder heads with a greenish gloss and longer wing stripes.
Both are divers, seldom seen in marshes. The bluebills have had the most liberal hunting limits of any duck over the last 50 years. The Green-winged Teal is a very small duck of the wetlands and small lakes or rivers. Males show a distinctive white stripe on the body and a green eye patch, otherwise being brownish. Female is brown speckled with a small green speculum behind the wing at rest.