Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
The Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a common ducks, swans, and geese found in 24 countries, weighing about 1.1 kg. The surf scoter is a large sea duck native to North America.
About the Surf Scoter
The surf scoter is a large sea duck native to North America. Adult males are almost entirely black with characteristic white patches on the forehead and the nape and adult females are slightly smaller and browner. Surf scoters breed in Northern Canada and Alaska and winter along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. They are diving ducks and mainly feed on benthic invertebrates, mussels representing an important part of their diet.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The surf scoter reaches sexual maturity after 3 years. The adult male is on average 1,050 g (2.31 lb) and 48 cm (19 in) in length while the adult female averages about 900 g (2.0 lb) and 44 cm (17 in) in length, making this the smallest species of scoter on average. The surf scoter has a wingspan of 29.9–30.3 in (76–77 cm). The male is completely velvety black except for white patches on the forehead and the nape. It has a swollen bill, appearing orange at a distance but patterned with white, red and yellow, and a black spot near the base. Voice: Surf scoters are generally silent and their few vocalizations are poorly known. During courtship display, males perform a gurgling call and an explosive puk-puk. Females defend their young with a crowlike call. When alarmed, surf scoters will often make a sound like a "guk", somewhere between a "cluck" and a "tok", while rapidly surveying their environment or taking to flight en masse.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in France, Belgium, Finland, Netherlands, Germany, South Korea.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Surf Scoter?
- The surf scoter reaches sexual maturity after 3 years. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Surf Scoter?
- The Surf Scoter is a large sized bird weighing about 1.1 kg.
- Where can you see a Surf Scoter?
- The Surf Scoter occurs in 24 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Sweden and Norway.
- What birds look similar to a Surf Scoter?
- The Surf Scoter is most easily confused with the White-winged Scoter, the Common Scoter and the Black Scoter.
- Is the Surf Scoter endangered?
- The Surf Scoter is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Surf Scoter for real
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