White-winged Scoter
A species of Scoters Scientific name : Melanitta deglandi Genus : Scoters
White-winged Scoter, A species of Scoters
Botanical name: Melanitta deglandi
Genus: Scoters
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Lars Petersson 
Description
The white-winged scoter is one of three North American scoter species and the largest species of scoter. It is characterised by its bulky shape and large bill. Females range from 950–1,950 g (2.09–4.30 lb) and 48–56 cm (19–22 in), averaging 1,180 g (2.60 lb) and 52.3 cm (20.6 in). She is brown with pale head patches. The male ranges from 1,360–2,128 g (2.998–4.691 lb) and from 53–60 cm (21–24 in), averaging 1,380 g (3.04 lb) and 55 cm (22 in). The white-winged scoter has a wingspan of 31.5 in (80 cm). He is all black, except for white around the eye and a white speculum. This scoter's bill has a black base and a large knob. There are a number of differing characteristics of the Stejneger's scoter and the white-winged scoter. Males of the white-winged scoter have browner flanks, dark yellow coloration of most of the bill and a less tall bill knob, approaching the velvet scoter. Stejneger's scoter has a very tall knob at the base of its mostly orange-yellow bill. Females are identical in the field. The Latin binomial commemorates the French zoologist Dr. Côme-Damien Degland (1787–1856). 
Size
41 - 81 cm
Life Expectancy
12-21.4 years
Nest Placement
Ground
Clutch Size
6 - 16 eggs
Feeding Habits
White-winged Scoter primarily consume mollusks, crustaceans, small fish, and insects, with minimal plant intake. They feed on different prey depending on the season and habitat: crustaceans and insects in freshwater during breeding, and mainly mollusks like clams and mussels in saltwater otherwise. White-winged Scoter dive to forage, prying bivalves from substrate underwater, where they also usually swallow their catch.
Habitat
White-winged Scoter occupies habitats ranging from large freshwater systems to coastal waters. Breeding grounds are typically in boreal forests near lakes and ponds with surrounding shrubbery. These water bodies often have sandy bottoms and are lined with a mix of dense vegetation, providing concealment for nesting. Post-breeding, white-winged Scoter may stay or relocate to larger aquatic habitats for molting. During winter, many migrate to coastal zones on the Atlantic and Pacific, favoring shallow areas with sandy or stony substrates, though some remain on inland waters like the Great Lakes.
Nest Behavior
White-winged Scoter engages in nesting far from lakes, with females single-handedly building the nest. Egg-laying patterns and parenting specifics are not provided, but like many ducks, females likely incubate the eggs while males do not assist with nesting duties.
Nest Characteristics
White-winged Scoter typically selects a depression in the soil under dense, thorny vegetation for nesting, often a significant distance from water. The fluffy, bowl-shaped nests are mainly constructed with down feathers supplemented with grasses and twigs, averaging 7.9 inches in diameter and 3.5 inches in height.
Dite type
Aquatic invertebrate eater
General Info
Behavior
White-winged Scoter exhibit a blend of communal and unique courtship routines, often initiating group flights characterized by dramatic ascents, stalls, and coordinated dives, occasionally with males flipping midair. Their quieter water-bound displays involve neck stretching, wing flapping, and bill-raising sequences. Prior to the breeding season, white-winged Scoter engage in pronounced performances, including mimed drinking and bathing acts, to attract mates. The species tends to form monogamous bonds, with couples established before reaching breeding territories. Males act defensively, repelling competitors and supporting their partners, who alone care for the ducklings. Post-breeding, white-winged Scoter migrate in small groups towards coastal wintering sites, where they socialize in flocks, mixing with other sea ducks.
Distribution Area
The white-winged scoter breeds over the far north of North America. It winters further south in temperate zones, on the Great Lakes, the coasts of the northern United States and the southern coasts of Canada.. It forms large flocks on suitable coastal waters. These are tightly packed, and the birds tend to take off together. It has occurred as a vagrant in Europe, including Scotland, Iceland, Norway and Ireland,
