surf scoter
Quick Summary
The surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a species of sea duck belonging to the genus Melanitta. Adult males are characterized by black plumage with distinctive white markings on the head and neck, while females and young birds are grayish-brown.12
These diving ducks are adept swimmers and divers, primarily inhabiting marine environments except during their breeding season. Surf scoters breed in the boreal forests and tundra of Canada and Alaska and winter along the coasts of North America. Their diet consists mainly of marine animals, such as clams, with plant material making up only about 10 percent. They are often seen feeding in mixed flocks with other scoter species.1
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