Surf Scoter ( Melanitta perspicillata )
Surf Scoter (Male), Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, California
Photograph by Alan And Elaine Wilson. Some rights reserved. (view image details) ...
The Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a diving duck which breeds across much of Canada and Alaska and winters along both coasts. This flock of distant Surf Scoters was at Haines, Alaska, in August, 2008.
Surf Scoter: Medium-sized diving duck, entirely black except for white patches on forehead and nape. Bill is orange, black, and white. Eyes are white.
Surf Scoter Behaviour
No observations regarding Surf Scoter behavior have been submitted to the database yet.
Interesting Facts about Surf Scoters ...
The Surf Scoter is from the order Anseriformes. Anseriformes are birds, with over 150 species belonging to this order. The majority of these are waterfowl such as ducks, geese, screamers and swans.
The Surf Scoter is often referred to as "skunk-head coot" by hunters, a reference to the male's strong black and white head patterning. They are most often observed along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, where they can be quite common.
Surf Scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata)
Status: Vagrant.
Last recorded on site in 2008
The Patuxent web-site provides more general information about this species.
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata (Linnaeus)
Status Common transient, fairly common in winter, rare in summer. The southward flight may begin in August but larger numbers are seen in late September and October.
Surf Scoter at Arrowhead Marsh
Yesterday [November 7th 2007] Don Reinberg and I hit some spots in the East Bay. Arrowhead Marsh at high tide had lots of Surf Scoters and Greater Scaup, plus the usual clappering rails and five grebe species.
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata. Rare in winter, spring, and fall in Tennessee Valley, Mountain, and Gulf Coast regions. Found primarily in offshore waters and less commonly on lakes.
Surf Scoter
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no
White-winged Scoter
Winter Sighting Information: uncommon
Nest on or near Refuge? no ...
Sexy, sexy Surf Scoter
Tags: scoters, seaducks
- Have you seen the cool 10,000 Birds t-shirts? Get yours today! - ...
SURF DUCK.
[Surf Scoter.]
FULIGULA PERSPICILLATA, Linn.
[Melanitta perspicillata.] ...
Surf Scoter (4m.)
Cory's Shearwater (20)
Manx Shearwater (4)
large shearwater sp. (22+): Very distant.
Northern Gannet (17): All sub-ads.
Double-crested Cormorant (40)
Laughing Gull (15)
Bonaparte's Gull (12) ...
Female Black Scoters have darker crowns with a contrasting paler face, lack the white spots on the face, and have rounder heads. Female Surf Scoters are very similar to female White-winged Scoters but have darker crowns and more obvious bills.
Ross' Goose (Chen rossii)
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) ...
Melanitta perspicillata (Surf Scoter)
Mergellus albellus (Smew)
Mergus merganser (Common Merganser)
Mergus serrator (Red-breasted Merganser)
Somateria mollissima (Common Eider)
Somateria spectabilis (King Eider) ...
Melanitta perspicillata - Surf Scoter (photo)
Melanitta fusca - White-winged Scoter
Bucephala
Bucephala clangula - Common Goldeneye
Bucephala albeola - Bufflehead
Bucephala islandica - Barrow's Goldeneye
Mergus ...
 See also: Scoter, Duck, Common Goldeneye, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser
|
