Surf Scoter

Melanitta perspicillata

Also known as:Skunk-duck, Skunk-head

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Identification

Field notes

48 cm (19") Common. Nests on tundra and on wooded Arctic lakes and rivers; winters along coasts; casual inland migrant. Dives through breaking ocean surf. Sloping forehead - not rounded. Also known as "Skunk-duck" or "Skunk-head".

Male: black head and body contrast white eye; bill is black, orange, yellow and white; white patches on the forehead and nape, and multicolored bill. In flight, white patches on head.

Female: overall grayish-brown with a darker crown; two white spots on each side of face; large dark bill. In flight, all brown except light belly; no wing patches.

Song: low croaking.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Mike Baird

Credit: Ken Schneider

Credit: Mike Baird

Credit: Nick

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Surf Scoter

Credit: Peter Stahl

Surf Scoter

Credit: MacaulayLibrary

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Surf Scoter (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 4

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:774-surf-scoter-female:1:1 Source: 774 Surf Scoter (Female), row 1

Surf Scoter (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 4

What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?: Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What colour was the SIDE ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: White or light gray · Yellow or olive · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:773-surf-scoter-male:1:1 Source: 773 Surf Scoter (Male), row 1