Greater Scaups are winter birds in Connecticut: the first arrive in late November, they are common by the second week of December, peak in late January (5.4% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.
When to look
First arrivalsNov 22-30late November
Common byDec 8-14the second week of December
PeakJan 22-31late January
Most gone byMar 22-31late March
Best: late January. First arrivals late November; most are gone by late March. Peak: on about 5.4% of Connecticut checklists.
Janpeak season
Febpeak season
Marpeak season
Apruncommon
Maynot usually seen
Junnot usually seen
Julnot usually seen
Augnot usually seen
Sepnot usually seen
Octrare
Novuncommon
Deccommon
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Connecticut that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
Burr CreekFairfield County, best late January · 109 checklists that week, 868 in all67%
Long Wharf ParkNew Haven County, best mid January · 20 checklists that week, 351 in all65%
Jennings BeachFairfield County, best early January · 21 checklists that week, 169 in all65%
Morse ParkNew Haven County, best mid January · 22 checklists that week, 3,681 in all61%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In Connecticut, the Greater Scaup is most often listed on checklists started between 1 and 3 pm (2.1% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
3.8%
4.7%
4.9%
5.3%
February
6.3%
4.4%
3.5%
4.0%
March
4.5%
4.0%
3.9%
2.6%
April
1.4%
0.8%
0.3%
0.1%
May
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
June
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
July
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
August
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
September
0%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
October
0.1%
0.3%
0.4%
0.3%
November
0.6%
0.8%
0.8%
1.1%
December
1.1%
1.7%
2.9%
3.5%
Neighboring states
Rhode Island: arrives early October, 7 weeks earlier than Connecticut
Massachusetts: arrives late October, 4 weeks earlier than Connecticut
New Jersey: arrives the second week of November, 2 weeks earlier than Connecticut
New York: arrives mid October, 5 weeks earlier than Connecticut
Common questions
When do Greater Scaups arrive in Connecticut?
Greater Scaups are winter birds in Connecticut: the first arrive in late November, they are common by the second week of December, peak in late January (5.4% of checklists), and most are gone by late March.
When do Greater Scaups leave Connecticut?
Most Greater Scaups have left Connecticut by late March, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early April.
When is the best time to see a Greater Scaup in Connecticut?
The Greater Scaup is reported most often in late January, on about 5.4% of Connecticut checklists.
Where in Connecticut are Greater Scaups seen most often?
By county, New Haven County, Fairfield County, and Middlesex County have the highest peak reporting rates for the Greater Scaup (counties with at least 200 checklists).
