Photo: David Menke / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

White-winged Scoter

Melanitta deglandi

White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Canada Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United Kingdom Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United States Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories

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The White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 1.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Melanitta
Species deglandi

Where it lives

Subarctic western Alaska to eastern shore of James Bay (east-central Canada)

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 1.8 kg
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Vulnerable

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The White-winged 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 White-winged Scoter is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA subarctic w Alaska to e shore of James Bay (ec Canada).

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.8 kg, with a wing length of about 27 cm and a tail of around 7.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.8 million km².

Songs & calls

White-winged Scoter — Call

Recorded by Andrew Spencer Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the White-winged Scoter?

The White-winged Scoter is a very large bird that weighs around 1.8 kg.

Where does the White-winged Scoter live?

The White-winged Scoter is found across North America with a range covering NA subarctic w Alaska to e shore of James Bay (ec Canada), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the White-winged Scoter belong to?

The White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the White-winged Scoter eat?

The White-winged Scoter hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the White-winged Scoter migrate?

The White-winged Scoter is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the White-winged 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 White-winged Scoter make?

1 real field recording of the White-winged Scoter — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the White-winged Scoter's range?

The White-winged Scoter has a mapped global range of about 4.8 million km².