Fauna Flora Photography

Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata

A large sea duck native to North America. Migratory, breeds in Northern Canada and winters along more Southern coasts of North America.

Specs

Length43-50cm
Weight600-1000g male, 800-1100g female
Wingspan72-80cm

Common Names

GermanBrillenente
EnglishSurf Scoter
FrenchMacreuse à front blanc
SpanishNegrón costero

Taxonomy

OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae
SpeciesMelanitta perspicillata

How to Identify

Male displays are mostly black with a distinctive white, orange pattern on the beak, white patch on the forehead and neck. Females are brownish with a dark brown cap.

Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) - Tadoussac - 2018-05-21

Where and When to Spot

Observed during migration along the coast of St. Lawrence river near Tadoussac.

Last updated on 2023-12-15. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.