Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="melanitta-perspicillata"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/melanitta-perspicillata/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/melanitta-perspicillata/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/melanitta-perspicillata/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="melanitta-perspicillata"></birdfyi-bird>À propos
A medium-sized diving duck (~1 kg) of the family Anatidae, males all-black with a multicolored bill and white head patches. Breeds on boreal lakes and wetlands of North America; winters in coastal bays and surf zones. Dives for mussels, clams, and crustaceans. Least Concern; populations are considered stable overall.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Envergure | 45,3 cm | 17.8 in |
| Poids | 1019,75 g | 35.97 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Male is entirely glossy black except for white patches on forehead and nape; bill tricolored orange, red, and white with black spot. Female sooty-brown with two white facial patches.
Habitat & Range
Répartition géographique
Breeds in boreal forests and tundra of northern North America. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to Baja California and the Carolinas.
Diet & Feeding
Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and herring spawn in coastal waters. Uses its distinctive swollen bill to pry shellfish from rocks.
Statut de conservation
Comportement et reproduction
Nidification
Nest type: CP.
Taille de la couvée
5-9
Son
Chant
Male produces a low, gurgling burble; female gives a crow-like, guttural cawing. The female's rasping, crow-like call is startling; males make soft, liquid gurgling notes during courtship.
Taxonomie
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Ordre | Anseriformes (Waterfowl) |
| Famille | Anatidae (Ducks, Geese & Swans) |
| Genus | Melanitta |
| Espèces | Melanitta perspicillata |
Distribution
Surf Scoter has been recorded in 6 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Foire aux questions
What does the Surf Scoter eat?
Where does the Surf Scoter live?
Is the Surf Scoter endangered?
How does the Surf Scoter nest?
What does the Surf Scoter sound like?
How big is the Surf Scoter?
What order and family does the Surf Scoter belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Anatidae family