White-winged Scoter
Melanitta deglandi
Alternate names: Whitewing, Surf duck
- Length
- 21.5 in
- Weight
- 3.5 lb
- Wingspan
- 31–32 in
Calls
White-winged Scoters are generally quiet outside the breeding season and are less vocal than most dabbling ducks.
- Males: Soft, low whistles and subdued cooing notes, short and muted in tone, heard mainly during spring courtship displays.
- Females: Low, guttural grunts and short croaking notes, soft and coarse, given infrequently during close interactions on the water.
Drake
The male gives low, short whistles and subdued cooing notes, most often heard during courtship on breeding waters. The tone is soft and carries only a short distance. In wintering flocks and during flight, drakes are usually silent.
Hen
The female produces low, harsh grunts and short croaking notes. Her 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 northern breeding grounds. During fall migration and winter along coasts or large lakes, White-winged Scoters are typically quiet, with little calling even in large groups.
Overview
The white-winged scoter is a large, robust diving duck typically found along coastal waters. Males are black with a distinct white patch around the eyes and a white wing speculum that is visible in flight. Females are dark brown with a less noticeable wing patch. Both sexes have large, bulbous bills, with males showing orange and black coloration.
White-winged scoters are known for their strong, low flight and their ability to dive deep for mollusks and crustaceans, making them a challenging target in open water environments. They are most commonly found in saltwater bays, lakes, and coastal regions.
Identification
White wing patch, white eye patch (male), large bulbous bill, black body (male), strong low flight, diving behavior
White-winged Scoters are large, heavy sea ducks with a thick neck, broad chest, and long sloping forehead. At a distance they appear mostly dark, flying low over big water with steady, deep wingbeats. The bold white wing patch flashing in flight is the most reliable field mark for both sexes. They are often confused with Surf and Black Scoters, but they look bulkier with a longer head profile and slower wingbeat.
Drake
Adult males are mostly black with a white comma below the eye and a large orange knob at the base of a heavy bill. On the wing the bright white patch across the secondaries stands out even in low light. Compared to a Surf Scoter, the drake White-winged looks longer headed and heavier, without the bold white forehead patch.
Hen
Females are dark brown with two pale face patches, one at the eye and one near the base of the bill. In flight they show the same strong white wing patch as the male, which separates them from Black Scoters that lack white in the wing. They appear larger and more thick-necked than female Surf Scoters, with a heavier bill and broader profile.
Range
Year-Round
White-winged Scoters are present somewhere in North America throughout the year, but there are few true year-round locations. Small numbers may remain in parts of the Pacific Northwest and northern coastal regions where wintering and breeding areas overlap.
Breeding
Breeding occurs primarily across the boreal forest and subarctic regions of Alaska and Canada. Core nesting areas extend from interior Alaska east across northern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and into central Canada. They breed on large northern lakes and tundra ponds within the boreal landscape.
Winter
Most White-winged Scoters winter along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States and Canada. Major concentrations occur from Alaska south to California on the Pacific Coast and from the Canadian Maritimes south to the mid-Atlantic states on the Atlantic Coast. Significant numbers also winter on the Great Lakes when open water is available.
Migration Timing
Fall migration typically begins in October, with peak coastal movements in November as birds leave northern lakes before freeze-up. Spring migration occurs from March through May, with birds returning north to boreal breeding areas soon after ice recedes.
Related Species
How to ID It
- Large, heavy-bodied sea duck with thick neck, broad chest, and long sloping forehead
- Bold white wing patch visible in flight on both sexes, extending across the secondary feathers
- Drake is mostly black with a white comma below the eye and a large orange knob at the base of the bill
- Hen is dark brown with two pale facial patches, one at the eye and one near the base of the bill
- Bill is heavy and wedge-shaped, thicker than on Surf or Black Scoter
- Head appears blocky with a long profile compared to the more compact Surf Scoter
- Tail is short and squared, lacking the long tail streamers of Long-tailed Duck
- Larger size and slower, deeper wingbeats separate it from Surf and Black Scoters in mixed flocks
Key Facts
- Bill Color (Drake)
- Orange knob, black base
- Bill Color (Hen)
- Dark gray to black
- Primary Habitat
- Coastal waters, large lakes
- Breeding Habitat
- Boreal lakes, tundra ponds
- Winter Habitat
- Coastal bays, Great Lakes
- Migration Pattern
- Late migrant; coastal routes
- North America Status
- Common in suitable range
Habitat
Primary Habitat. White-winged Scoters are strongly associated with large bodies of open water. During much of the year they occupy coastal bays, estuaries, protected ocean shorelines, and large inland lakes. They prefer deep, open water rather than shallow marshes or flooded fields. On inland waters they use expansive lakes and large reservoirs with broad open stretches rather than narrow river backwaters or small ponds.
Seasonal Habitat Differences. In the breeding season, White-winged Scoters use northern boreal wetlands, including large freshwater lakes, tundra ponds, and forested lake systems across Alaska and Canada. During migration and winter, they shift to saltwater environments along coastal bays, coastal lagoons, and nearshore marine waters. On the Great Lakes, they occupy open lake basins and deeper shoreline zones when ice conditions allow.
Landscape Features to Look For. Look for broad, windswept water with minimal emergent vegetation, such as open coastal waters, large inland lakes, and exposed shorelines. They favor areas with deep water and rocky or sandy bottoms rather than shallow marshes with dense cattails or flooded grasslands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you identify a White-winged Scoter in the field?
White-winged Scoters are large, dark sea ducks with a thick neck and broad profile. The bold white patch on the wing is the most reliable field mark in flight. Drakes are black with a white mark below the eye and an orange knob at the base of the bill, while hens are dark brown with pale facial patches.
Where do White-winged Scoters live in North America?
White-winged Scoters breed across Alaska and northern Canada in boreal and subarctic regions. In winter, they occur mainly along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and on the Great Lakes. They are most often found on large open waters rather than inland marshes.
What habitats do White-winged Scoters prefer?
White-winged Scoters favor large lakes, coastal bays, estuaries, and nearshore marine waters. During breeding season, they use northern freshwater lakes and tundra ponds. In winter, they concentrate on saltwater coastlines and expansive inland lakes with deep, open water.
Are White-winged Scoters migratory?
Yes, White-winged Scoters are strong migrants. They leave northern breeding lakes in fall before freeze-up and move to coastal waters and the Great Lakes. In spring, they return north to boreal and subarctic breeding areas after ice recedes.
What species are commonly confused with White-winged Scoters?
White-winged Scoters are often confused with Surf Scoters and Black Scoters. White-winged Scoters are larger and heavier, with a longer head profile and a clear white wing patch. Black Scoters lack white in the wing, and Surf Scoters show bold white patches on the head instead of the wing.
What do White-winged Scoters eat?
White-winged Scoters feed primarily on aquatic invertebrates, including mollusks and crustaceans. In freshwater breeding areas, they also consume aquatic insects and small fish. They dive to forage, often in deeper water than dabbling ducks.
In the Field
Photo: Mike Carlo/USFWS
