Black Scoter
Black ScoterBlack ScoterBlack Scoter

Black Scoter

Melanitta americana

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

The black scoter or American scoter (Melanitta americana) is a large sea duck, 43 to 49 cm (17 to 19 in) in length. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek melas "black" and netta "duck". The species name is from the Latin for "American". Together with the common scoter M. nigra, it forms the subgenus Oidemia; the two are sometimes considered conspecific, the black scoter then being referred to as M. nigra americana. Its French name, used in parts of its Canadian range, is macreuse noire (also meaning "black scoter"). Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Vatnajokull National Park

Common Scoter
LC

Common Scoter

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Melanitta nigra

10–20% · With luck
Velvet Scoter
VU

Velvet Scoter

Bird

Melanitta fusca

Insufficient data
Eurasian Wigeon
LC

Eurasian Wigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca penelope

70–80% · Likely
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

60–70% · Likely
Tufted Duck
LC

Tufted Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya fuligula

60–70% · Likely
Whooper Swan
LC

Whooper Swan

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cygnus cygnus

50–60% · Likely
Red-breasted Merganser
LC

Red-breasted Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus serrator

50–60% · Likely
Common Eider
NT

Common Eider

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Somateria mollissima

50–60% · Likely
Long-tailed Duck
VU

Long-tailed Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Clangula hyemalis

40–50% · Likely
Harlequin Duck
LC

Harlequin Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Histrionicus histrionicus

30–40% · Possible
Common Teal
LC

Common Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas crecca

30–40% · Possible
Barrow's Goldeneye
LC

Barrow's Goldeneye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala islandica

20–30% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

📊

Fewer than 5 records of Black Scoter at Vatnajokull 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 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
2 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
3 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
4 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
5 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
6 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
7 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
8 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
9 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
10 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
11 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
12 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
14 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
15 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
16 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
17 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
Insufficient data
18 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
19 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data
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