Greater scaup is a widespread species. It breeds in the sub-arctic region and on the northern border of the taiga, from Alaska, northern Canada, northern Scandinavia and Siberia. In winter it migrates south, e.g. to California. It is a diving duck with a varied diet, consisting of both vegetables and insects and mollusks. Unfortunately, it has decreased sharply in number in recent times, which is noticeable e.g. in the Baltic Sea. This Greater scaup was swimming with a number of other duck species "on winter holidays" in a lagoon right next to the Pacific Ocean.