Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
About the Surf Scoter
The surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a large sea duck native to North America. Adult males are 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 winters along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. Those diving ducks mainly feed on benthic invertebrates, mussels representing an important part of their diet.
Key Facts
- Well-known species with 29,659 recorded observations.
Classification
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name of the Surf Scoter?
The scientific name of the Surf Scoter is Melanitta perspicillata.
How many Surf Scoter sightings have been recorded?
29,659 observations of the Surf Scoter have been recorded on iNaturalist.
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Featured in Beat Darwin
The Surf Scoter was Beat Darwin's Animal of the Day on challenge #84 — June 3, 2026. Can you identify it in 3 attempts?
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