Surf Scoter

The Surf Scoter is a large, heavy-bodied sea duck native to North America. Known colloquially as the "skunkhead" due to the male's distinct black-and-white head pattern, this species is a common sight along coastal shorelines during the winter months. They are powerful divers, specially adapted to thrive in rough marine environments where they forage in turbulent surf zones. While highly visible on their coastal wintering grounds, they retreat to remote, low-density nesting areas in the northern boreal forests of Canada and Alaska during the breeding season.

Identifying Surf Scoters relies on recognizing their unique head shapes, bill structures, and plumage patterns.

Adult Males

• Plumage: Entirely velvety black, broken only by two stark white patches: one on the forehead and a larger, downward-pointing triangular patch on the nape of the neck.
• Bill: Large, swollen, and highly colorful, appearing orange, red, and yellow with a stark white patch and a prominent black spot on the side.
• Eyes: Distinctly white or pale bluish-white, giving them a piercing stare.

Adult Females

• Plumage: Overall dark brown, with a slightly darker cap on the crown.
• Face Marks: Two indistinct smudge-like pale patches on each side of the face—one at the base of the bill and one behind the eye.
• Bill: Greenish-black, slightly sloping, but lacking the swollen, colorful characteristics of the male.
• Eyes: Dark brown.

In Flight and Similar Species

• In Flight: From a distance, they appear as dark, heavy ducks flying in long, low lines over the water. Unlike the White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi), Surf Scoters show entirely dark wings with no white secondary patches.
• vs. Black Scoter: Female Black Scoters have a cleaner, two-toned head pattern (dark cap contrasting sharply with a pale lower cheek) rather than two separate pale smudges on a dark face. Male Black Scoters are entirely black with an all-black bill capped by a bright yellow-orange knob at the base, lacking any white plumage.

Breeding Range

During the summer, Surf Scoters breed in North America's far north, primarily across the boreal forest and subarctic tundra zones of Alaska, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and northern Quebec. They nest near deep, freshwater wetlands, slow-moving rivers, and boreal lakes.

Winter and Migration

In autumn, they migrate to coastal marine environments. They winter extensively along the Pacific Coast (from the Aleutian Islands down to Baja California) and the Atlantic Coast (from Newfoundland south to Florida, occasionally reaching the Gulf Coast). They favor shallow, coastal waters, sandy beaches with breaking surf, protected bays, and harbors where bivalves are plentiful. They are rarely found far inland during migration, except on major water bodies like the Great Lakes.

Feeding and Diet

Surf Scoters are specialized benthic feeders. They dive to depths of up to 10 meters (33 feet) to pluck prey from muddy, sandy, or rocky substrates. Their wings are often held partially open while diving to assist with steering and propulsion. Their winter diet is dominated by bivalve mollusks, particularly blue mussels, which they swallow whole, crushing the shells in their highly muscular gizzards. During the summer breeding season on freshwater lakes, they shift their diet to include aquatic insects, small crabs, snails, and aquatic vegetation.

Vocalization and Wing Sounds

While generally quiet, courting males make liquid gurgled whistles, croaks, and soft clucks. Perhaps their most famous acoustic feature is the high-pitched, musical whistling sound produced by the wings of migrating or flying flocks, which can often be heard before the birds themselves are clearly visible.

Nesting and Socializing

Outside of the breeding season, they are highly gregarious, forming massive, tightly packed flocks (known as "rafts") on the water. During the breeding season, pairs form on the wintering grounds or during spring migration. The female selects a well-concealed nesting site on the ground, usually beneath dense coniferous branches, thick shrubs, or deadfall, often quite far from the water's edge. She lines the ground scrape with down and lays a clutch of 5 to 9 cream-colored eggs.