Surf Scoter — Length 20 inches
Surf Scoters breed on inland lakes but winter on the coasts, and migratory movements take place at night. When diving underwater, the behavior of Surf Scoters is variable. Sometimes they propel themselves with their feet alone, sometimes they extend their wings to help steer, and sometimes they propel themselves with both wings and feet.
Until near the end of the 20th century, very few studies of breeding Surf Scoters had been conducted, making it one of the most poorly studied species. Surf Scoters are thought to breed for the first time at age two or three, but little information exists as to their maximum lifespan.
Male and female Surf Scoters are substantially different in appearance.
Juvenile males resemble females but have a distinctive bill shape. The front of the head and the bill give a sloped appearance in adult males.
Multicolored bill and white patch on the back of the neck and the forehead make this adult male Surf Scoter an easy bird to identify. The white eye in the adults is not always apparent. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
Young male has some orange starting to show on the bill. Photograph © Tom Grey.
Adult female Surf Scoter. The white vertical mark at the base of the bill is variable, and often stronger. See the pair on the last photograph on this page. Photograph © Tom Grey.
First winter female Surf Scoter. Photograph © Tom Grey.
Male and female Surf Scoters. The vertical white mark at the base of the bill on the female is a good mark for an adult female. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.
Dark cap and bumpy bill indicate juvenile male.
Wings produce a low whistle on male. Photograph © Glenn Bartly.
Surf Scoters migrate along both coasts. Photograph © Glenn Bartly.
Bill markings on the bird on the left indicate Surf Scoter. Photograph © Greg Lavaty.