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Home/Species/ Surf Scoter

Melanitta perspicillata

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Surf Scoter

G5Secure Found in 114 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata). Photo by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Public Domain (U.S. Government Work), via ECOS.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, https://www.usa.gov/government-works
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100806
Element CodeABNJB17020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAves
OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae
GenusMelanitta
Other Common Names
Macreuse à front blanc (FR) Negreta Nuca Blanca (ES)
Concept Reference
American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in The Auk]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-09
Change Date1996-11-21
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Range Extent Comments
BREEDS: western Alaska (scattered nesting in northern Alaska?), Mackenzie Delta, northern Prairie Provinces, to James Bay and Newfoundland; central Labrador; possibly northeastern Siberia. WINTERS: primarily coastal from Aleutian Islands to Baja California and Gulf of California (mainly coast of southeastern Alaska and British Columbia, also the coast near San Diego); Nova Scotia to Florida, Gulf Coast (rarely); Great Lakes; casual in other areas; accidental in Hawaii (Oahu). In the early 1990s, USFWS Winter Sea Duck Survey in eastern North America found the highest densities of scoters (all species) in Virginia, New York, Maine, and Massachusetts (descending order of abundance, Kehoe 1994).
Threat Impact Comments
Hydroelectric projects in Quebec and Labrador have had localized impacts on breeding habitat, but effects on the continental population probably have been small; urbanization and industrialization of many coastal bays and estuaries have degraded some winter habitat; chemical contamination and heavy metal accumulation of winter food supplies possibly may be affecting reproductive success of some populations (Kehoe 1994). Vulnerable to overharvest through hunting (Kehoe 1994).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Nonbreeding: primarily marine littoral areas, less frequently in bays or on freshwater lakes and rivers (AOU 1983). Nests in brushy tundra, in freshwater marsh, or in wooded area near pond, bog, or stream. Nests on the ground in an area protected by vegetative cover. The nest is a depression lined with plant material and down.

Reproduction

Breeding begins generally around mid-June. In northern Quebec, egg laying began in the first week of June; hatching occurred in the second and third weeks of July (Savard and Lamothe, 1991, Can. Field-Nat. 105:488-496). Clutch size is 5-8. Incubation is done by female (male departs). Precocial young are tended by female.
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferTundra
Palustrine Habitats
HERBACEOUS WETLANDBog/fenRiparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaSUBYes
British ColumbiaS3B,S4NYes
NunavutSUBYes
QuebecS4BYes
Prince Edward IslandS4NYes
LabradorS5BYes
Northwest TerritoriesS3Yes
ManitobaS3B,S4MYes
SaskatchewanS3BYes
Island of NewfoundlandS4N,SUMYes
OntarioS4B,S5NYes
New BrunswickS2N,S4MYes
Nova ScotiaS4N,SUMYes
Yukon TerritoryS3BYes
United StatesN5B,N5N
ProvinceRankNative
MissouriSNAYes
South DakotaSNAYes
VirginiaSNRNYes
MississippiSNAYes
New HampshireSNAYes
WashingtonS3NYes
MarylandS4NYes
IllinoisSNAYes
MassachusettsS5NYes
KentuckySNAYes
KansasSNAYes
New YorkSNRNYes
LouisianaS2NYes
AlaskaS4B,S4NYes
ArkansasSNAYes
ConnecticutSNAYes
OregonSNAYes
FloridaSNRNYes
CaliforniaSNRNYes
TexasS3NYes
AlabamaS3NYes
MaineS3NYes
TennesseeS3NYes
South CarolinaS4NYes
Rhode IslandSNAYes
PennsylvaniaSNAYes
VermontSNAYes
OhioSNAYes
MichiganSNRNYes
West VirginiaSNAYes
GeorgiaS4Yes
New JerseySNRNYes
MinnesotaSNRMYes
DelawareS4NYes
North DakotaSNAYes
IowaS1NYes
ArizonaS1NYes
North CarolinaS4NYes
UtahS1NYes
IndianaS1NYes
ColoradoSNAYes
WisconsinSNAYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)UnknownLow (long-term)
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)UnknownLow (long-term)

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Roadless Areas (114)
Alaska (88)
AreaForestAcres
AnanTongass National Forest36,666
Bay of PillarsTongass National Forest27,492
Behm IslandsTongass National Forest4,777
Bering LakeChugach National Forest965,076
Bering LakeChugach National Forest965,076
Boston BarChugach National Forest53,617
Boston BarChugach National Forest53,617
CalderTongass National Forest9,857
ChichagofTongass National Forest555,858
Chilkat-West Lynn CanalTongass National Forest199,772
ChristovalTongass National Forest9,129
Chugach-11Chugach National Forest104
Chugach-11Chugach National Forest104
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-12Chugach National Forest8,116
Chugach-14Chugach National Forest184
Chugach-14Chugach National Forest184
Chugach-15Chugach National Forest56
Chugach-15Chugach National Forest56
Chugach-3Chugach National Forest27,386
Chugach-3Chugach National Forest27,386
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
College FiordChugach National Forest1,130,818
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Copper River WetlandsChugach National Forest85,972
Douglas IslandTongass National Forest28,065
DukeTongass National Forest45,091
EudoraTongass National Forest195,022
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
Fidalgo-GravinaChugach National Forest257,968
GravinaTongass National Forest37,381
HardingTongass National Forest174,349
Hoonah SoundTongass National Forest79,764
Johnson PassChugach National Forest152,508
Johnson PassChugach National Forest152,508
Juneau UrbanTongass National Forest101,581
Juneau-Skagway IcefieldTongass National Forest1,187,268
KartaTongass National Forest52,117
KekuTongass National Forest10,869
Kenai LakeChugach National Forest213,172
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
Kenai MountainsChugach National Forest306,600
KosciuskoTongass National Forest64,134
MadanTongass National Forest68,553
Mansfield PeninsulaTongass National Forest54,991
MontagueChugach National Forest204,875
MontagueChugach National Forest204,875
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
Nellie JuanChugach National Forest713,697
North BaranofTongass National Forest314,089
North KruzofTongass National Forest33,146
North KupreanofTongass National Forest114,660
North RevillaTongass National Forest215,430
North WrangellTongass National Forest8,091
Port AlexanderTongass National Forest120,681
Prince William Sound Is.Chugach National Forest118,698
Prince William Sound Is.Chugach National Forest118,698
RedoubtTongass National Forest68,347
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
ResurrectionChugach National Forest224,615
RevillaTongass National Forest29,298
RhineTongass National Forest23,010
Roaded DonutChugach National Forest968
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sheridan GlacierChugach National Forest224,683
Sitka UrbanTongass National Forest112,003
South KruzofTongass National Forest55,193
SullivanTongass National Forest67,323
Taku-SnettishamTongass National Forest664,928
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Twenty MileChugach National Forest198,775
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
Upper SitukTongass National Forest16,789
West ZaremboTongass National Forest6,786
Windham-Port HoughtonTongass National Forest161,952
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
Yakutat ForelandsTongass National Forest323,648
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
GoldfieldTonto National Forest15,257
California (6)
AreaForestAcres
Dry LakesLos Padres National Forest17,043
Horse Mdw.Inyo National Forest5,687
Malduce BuckhornLos Padres National Forest14,177
MatilijaLos Padres National Forest5,218
North LakeInyo National Forest2,406
Table Mtn.Inyo National Forest4,215
Idaho (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekCaribou-Targhee National Forest118,582
Montana (3)
AreaForestAcres
Big LogHelena National Forest8,954
Cube Iron - SilcoxLolo National Forest36,998
HolterHelena National Forest1,965
Oregon (11)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
Umpqua SpitSiuslaw National Forest2,090
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
Texas (1)
AreaForestAcres
Big CreekNational Forests in Texas1,447
Utah (1)
AreaForestAcres
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
Virginia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bear CreekJefferson National Forest18,274
Washington (1)
AreaForestAcres
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
References (22)
  1. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1983. Check-list of North American Birds, 6th edition. Allen Press, Inc., Lawrence, Kansas. 877 pp.
  2. American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). 1998. Check-list of North American birds. Seventh edition. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. [as modified by subsequent supplements and corrections published in <i>The Auk</i>]. Also available online: http://www.aou.org/.
  3. Bellrose, F.C. 1976. Ducks, geese and swans of North America. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA.
  4. BirdLife International. 2004b. Threatened birds of the world 2004. CD ROM. BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
  5. Eadie, J. M., L.-P. L. Savard, and M. L. Mallory. 2000 Barrow's Goldeneye (BUCEPHALA ISLANDICA). No. 548 IN A. Poole and F. Gill, editors, The birds of North America. The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA. 32pp.
  6. Grand, J.B., and P.L. Flint. 1997. Productivity of nesting Spectacled Eiders on the lower Kashunuk River, Alaska. Condor 100:926-932.
  7. Harrison, C. 1978. A Field Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds. Collins, Cleveland, Ohio.
  8. Howell, S. N. G., and S. Webb. 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  9. Johnson, S. R. and D. R. Herter. 1989. The Birds of the Beaufort Sea. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. 372 pp.
  10. Kehoe, P., compiler and editor. 1994. Status and information needs of sea ducks in the Atlantic Flyway. Prepared by the Ad Hoc Sea Duck Committee. 71+ pp.
  11. Morrier, A., L. Lesage, A. Reed, and J.-P. L. Savard. 1997 Etude sur l'ecologie de la Macreuse a front blanc au lac Malbaie, Reserve des Laurentides--1994-1995. Canadian Wildlife Service, QC, Technical Report Series no. 301.
  12. Parker III, T. A., D. F. Stotz, and J. W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Ecological and distributional databases for neotropical birds. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
  13. Peterson, R.T. 1980b. A field guide to the birds of eastern and central North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  14. Peterson, R.T. 1990b. A field guide to western birds. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  15. Poole, A. F. and F. B. Gill. 1992. The birds of North America. The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C. and The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA.
  16. Reed, A. 1975. Migration, homing, and mortality of breeding female eiders SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA DRESSERI of the St. Lawrence estuary, Quebec. Ornis Scand. 6:41-47.
  17. Root, T. 1988. Atlas of wintering North American birds: An analysis of Christmas Bird Count data. University of Chicago Press. 336 pp.
  18. Sibley, D. A. 2000a. The Sibley guide to birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  19. Swennen, C. 1990. Dispersal and migratory movements of eiders SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA breeding in the Netherlands. Ornis Scand. 21:17-27.
  20. Terres, J. K. 1980. The Audubon Society encyclopedia of North American birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
  21. van de Wetering, D. 1997. Moult characteristics and habitat selection of post-breeding male Barrow's Goldeneye (BUCEPHALA ISLANDICA) in northern Yukon. Technical Report Series No. 296, Canadian Wildlife Service, Quebec Region.
  22. Wakeley, J. S., and H. L. Mendall. 1976. Migrational homing and survival of adult female eiders in Maine. Journal of Wildlife Management 40:15-21.