White-winged Scoter

Melanitta deglandi

The White-winged Scoter is a large sea duck with a distinctive appearance. Males have black plumage with white patches on the head and a bright yellow knob at the base of the bill. Females are brown with paler faces. These ducks are known for their diving behavior, feeding on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. They breed in the boreal forests of North America and winter along coastal waters. Their populations are vulnerable to oil spills and habitat degradation, and they are also impacted by lead poisoning from ingesting fishing sinkers. Conservation efforts are focused on protecting their breeding and wintering habitats.

Habitat: Coastal waters