Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
Alternate names: Skunk-head, Black scoter
- Length
- 19.5 in
- Weight
- 2 lb
- Wingspan
- 29–31 in
Calls
Surf Scoters are generally quiet outside the breeding season and are less vocal than most dabbling ducks.
- Males: Soft, subdued whistles and low croaks, short and muted, heard mainly during spring courtship displays.
- Females: Low, rough grunting notes, short and coarse in tone, given quietly during close contact on the water.
Drake
Males give low, short whistles and soft croaking notes, most often heard during courtship on northern breeding waters. The tone is subdued and carries only a short distance. In winter flocks and during flight along coasts, drakes are usually silent.
Hen
Females produce low, rough grunts and short, harsh notes. These calls are brief and infrequent, typically given during close interactions on the water. They lack the ringing quality of puddle duck quacks and are seldom heard at long range.
When You'll Hear Them
Vocalizations are most noticeable during spring and early summer on breeding grounds. During fall migration and winter along coastal waters and large lakes, Surf Scoters are typically quiet even in large groups.
Overview
The surf scoter is a large, stout diving duck known for its bold coloration and striking head patterns.
Males are black with a distinctive white patch on the forehead and the nape, along with a brightly colored orange, white, and black bill. Females are dark brown with more subdued markings.
Both sexes have a sloping forehead and are commonly found along coastal waters, especially during migration and winter.
Known for diving deep for shellfish, surf scoters are strong swimmers, often forming large flocks in ocean bays and estuaries, providing a challenging target for hunters.
Identification
White forehead patch (male), colorful orange-and-black bill (male), black body (male), large size, deep diving ability, ocean habitat
Surf Scoters are compact, dark sea ducks with a thick neck and steep forehead that give them a front heavy look on the water. They fly low and fast over open water with quick, shallow wingbeats and tight wing strokes. In poor light they appear mostly black, so shape and flight style matter more than color. They are often confused with White-winged and Black Scoters, but Surf Scoters lack the bold white wing patch of White-winged and look shorter headed than that species.
Drake
Adult males are black with a white patch on the forehead and another on the back of the head. The bill is swollen and brightly patterned with orange, white, and black, which shows well at close range. In flight the white head patches flash clearly, and the absence of white in the wing separates them from White-winged Scoters.
Hen
Females are dark brown with two pale face patches, one at the base of the bill and one behind the eye. They lack white in the wing, so at distance they appear uniformly dark in flight. Compared to female White-winged Scoters, they look smaller with a shorter head profile and lighter facial contrast.
Range
Year-Round
Surf Scoters are present somewhere in North America throughout the year, but few areas support them year-round. Small numbers may remain along parts of the Pacific Northwest coast where wintering and breeding distributions approach one another. Most populations shift seasonally between northern inland breeding areas and coastal wintering grounds.
Breeding
Surf Scoters breed across the boreal forest and subarctic regions of Alaska and Canada. Core nesting areas extend from interior Alaska east through northern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and into Quebec. They nest on freshwater lakes and wetlands within forested and tundra landscapes.
Winter
The majority of Surf Scoters winter along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. On the Pacific Coast, they occur from Alaska south to California. On the Atlantic Coast, they range from the Canadian Maritimes south to the mid-Atlantic states. Significant numbers also winter on the Great Lakes when open water is available.
Migration Timing
Fall migration typically begins in October, with peak coastal arrivals in November after northern lakes freeze. Spring migration occurs from March through May, as birds move north to boreal breeding areas soon after ice-out.
Related Species
How to ID It
- Medium-sized sea duck with compact body, thick neck, and steep forehead profile
- Drake is mostly black with bold white patch on forehead and white patch on nape
- Drake shows swollen, multicolored bill with orange, white, and black pattern
- Hen is dark brown with two pale facial patches, one at the base of the bill and one behind the eye
- No white wing patch in flight, separating it from White-winged Scoter
- Wings appear narrow with fast, shallow wingbeats over open water
- Tail is short and squared, lacking long streamers
- Smaller and shorter-headed than White-winged Scoter, but bulkier and more patterned-headed than Black Scoter
Key Facts
- Bill Color (Drake)
- Orange, white, black
- Bill Color (Hen)
- Dark gray to black
- Primary Habitat
- Coastal waters, large lakes
- Breeding Habitat
- Boreal lakes, tundra wetlands
- Winter Habitat
- Coastal bays, nearshore ocean
- Migration Pattern
- Late migrant; coastal routes
- North America Status
- Common coastal winterer
Habitat
Primary Habitat. Surf Scoters are strongly associated with coastal marine waters and large inland lakes. They prefer open, deep water in coastal bays, estuaries, nearshore ocean zones, and large freshwater lakes rather than shallow marshes or flooded fields. They are most often found over broad expanses of open water with limited emergent vegetation. Protected coastal lagoons and expansive lake basins are typical core habitats.
Seasonal Habitat Differences. During the breeding season, Surf Scoters use freshwater wetlands in the boreal forest and subarctic regions, including forested lakes, tundra ponds, and large northern marshes. Outside the breeding season, they shift almost entirely to saltwater environments along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as well as the Great Lakes. Wintering birds concentrate in coastal bays, estuaries, and nearshore marine waters with consistent open water.
Landscape Features to Look For. Look for wide stretches of open water with minimal vegetation, such as coastal bays, rocky shorelines, exposed headlands, and large inland lake basins. They favor deeper water areas rather than shallow river backwaters, prairie potholes, or flooded grasslands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you identify a Surf Scoter in the field?
Surf Scoters are compact, dark sea ducks with a thick neck and steep forehead. The drake shows bold white patches on the forehead and nape and a swollen, multicolored bill. In flight, they appear mostly dark with fast, shallow wingbeats and no white wing patch, which separates them from White-winged Scoters.
Where are Surf Scoters found in North America?
Surf Scoters breed across Alaska and northern Canada in boreal and subarctic regions. In winter, they occur mainly along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and on the Great Lakes. They are most common on coastal marine waters and large inland lakes with open water.
What habitats do Surf Scoters prefer?
Surf Scoters use large bodies of open water. During winter, they concentrate in coastal bays, estuaries, nearshore ocean waters, and large lake basins. In the breeding season, they occupy northern freshwater lakes and wetlands within the boreal forest and tundra regions.
Are Surf Scoters migratory?
Yes, Surf Scoters are strong seasonal migrants. They leave northern breeding lakes in fall before freeze-up and move to coastal waters and the Great Lakes. Spring migration occurs after ice-out, when birds return to boreal breeding areas in Alaska and Canada.
What species are commonly confused with Surf Scoters?
Surf Scoters are often confused with White-winged and Black Scoters. They lack the white wing patch of White-winged Scoters and show bold white head patches unlike Black Scoters. Surf Scoters also appear shorter-headed and slightly smaller than White-winged Scoters.
What do Surf Scoters eat?
Surf Scoters feed mainly on aquatic invertebrates, including mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. In marine environments they dive for shellfish and other invertebrates, while on freshwater breeding lakes they also consume insect larvae and small aquatic organisms.
In the Field
Photo: Jake Bonello/USFWS 
Photo: Huntzinger/NPS 
Photo: Ronan Dugan/USFWS
