Photo: Alan D. Wilson / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Melanitta
- Species perspicillata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Surf Scoter hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Surf Scoter is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA mainland Alaska through subarctic Canada e to Labrador.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 22.6 cm and a tail of around 7.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Surf Scoter?
The Surf Scoter is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.
Where does the Surf Scoter live?
The Surf Scoter is found across North America with a range covering NA mainland Alaska through subarctic Canada e to Labrador, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Surf Scoter belong to?
The Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Surf Scoter eat?
The Surf Scoter hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Surf Scoter migrate?
The Surf Scoter is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Surf Scoter endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Surf Scoter make?
1 real field recording of the Surf Scoter — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Surf Scoter's range?
The Surf Scoter has a mapped global range of about 4.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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