Surf Scoter
Surf ScoterSurf ScoterSurf ScoterSurf Scoter

Surf Scoter

Melanitta perspicillata

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Insufficient data
overall probability at Nahanni National Park
1 Verified records at Nahanni National Park
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) is a large sea duck native to North America. Adult males are almost entirely black with characteristic white patches on the forehead and the nape and adult females are slightly smaller and browner. Surf scoters breed in Northern Canada and Alaska and winter along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. They are diving ducks and mainly feed on benthic invertebrates, mussels representing an important part of their diet. Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Nahanni National Park

American White-winged Scoter
LC

American White-winged Scoter

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanitta deglandi

Insufficient data
Barrow's Goldeneye
LC

Barrow's Goldeneye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala islandica

10–20% · With luck
Common Teal
LC

Common Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas crecca

10–20% · With luck
Lesser Scaup
LC

Lesser Scaup

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya affinis

5–10% · With luck
American Wigeon

American Wigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca americana

5–10% · With luck
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

5–10% · With luck
Trumpeter Swan
LC

Trumpeter Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus buccinator

Insufficient data
Ring-necked Duck
LC

Ring-necked Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya collaris

Insufficient data
Bufflehead
LC

Bufflehead

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala albeola

Insufficient data
Red-breasted Merganser
LC

Red-breasted Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus serrator

Insufficient data
Long-tailed Duck
VU

Long-tailed Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Clangula hyemalis

Insufficient data
Northern Pintail
LC

Northern Pintail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas acuta

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Surf Scoter at Nahanni National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
40–50%
2 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
3 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
4 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
5 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
6 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
7 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
8 Gates of the Arctic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
9 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
10 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
11 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
12 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
13 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
14 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
15 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
16 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
17 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
18 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
19 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
20 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
21 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
22 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
23 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
24 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
25 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
26 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
27 Wood Buffalo National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
28 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
29 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
30 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
31 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
32 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data
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