Greater Scaup

Like most diving ducks, the Greater Scaup has small wings, and its legs are placed well
back on its body. These adaptations help it while it is swimming under the water, but
they make takeoffs and landings awkward and walking on land clumsy. The Greater
Scaup is a common sight on the sea from November through March, and it prefers
deep, open water. It can be seen in most sheltered coastal areas; just off Stanley Park
and Kitsilano Beach are good places to look
The Greater Scaup and the Lesser Scaup are almost identical and are always a prob-
lem to tell apart. The Greater Scaup has a more rounded head with a green gloss, and
it is more common on salt water. In flight, the white wing stripe also extends through
most of the Greater Scaup's wing.

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