(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)

White-winged Scoter - Melanitta fusca

Identification Tips:

  1. Length: 16 inches Wingspan: 38 inches
  2. Medium-sized diving duck
  3. Large white speculum sometimes visible at rest
  4. Sloping forehead
  5. Base of bill partly feathered

Adult male:

  1. Entirely black plumage
  2. Small white patch around eye
  3. Black bill with a red tip
  4. Immature male similar to female

Adult female:

  1. Two variably white spots on face
  2. Very dark plumage
  3. Immature females somewhat paler

Similar species:

The White-winged Scoter is most distinctive in flight. Its large white wing patches and dark plumage are diagnostic. At rest, the dark plumage is similar to other scoters; sometimes, the white wing patches are visible. Adult male White-winged Scoters have a distinctive white patch around the eye. Female Black Scoters have darker crowns with a contrasting paler face, lack the white spots on the face, and have rounder heads. Female Surf Scoters are very similar to female White-winged Scoters but have darker crowns and more obvious bills.