# White-winged Scoter (*Melanitta deglandi*) The White-winged Scoter is a unique duck with striking white wing patches. They love to dive underwater to find tasty food like clams and snails. These birds are often seen in coastal areas during winter. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![White-winged Scoter](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Melanitta_fusca_var_deglandi_f_Toronto.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mykola Swarnyk, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Melanitta_fusca_var_deglandi_f_Toronto.jpg) ## Appearance The White-winged Scoter is a large, bulky sea duck, predominantly black with a distinct white patch on its secondary wing feathers, visible in flight and at rest. Males have a bulbous orange-yellow bill with a black knob at the base, while females have a dusky bill and plainer head. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Melanitta ## Interesting facts - Their fluffy, dark ducklings are almost black, perfectly camouflaged in their marshy nests! - They can stay underwater for over a minute, using wings to 'fly' for food! - Unlike many ducks, they nest in freshwater but prefer saltwater oceans for winter! - White-winged Scoters migrate over 3,000 miles from the Arctic to southern coasts! ## Special abilities - **Deep Diver:** White-winged Scoters can dive over 60 feet deep because of their dense bones and powerful legs that help them reach food. - **Underwater Vision:** They have excellent underwater eyesight that helps them spot clams and mussels in murky seafloor environments. - **Shell Crusher:** The White-winged Scoter has a strong, broad bill that helps them crush hard-shelled mollusks and crustaceans. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 48-58 cm - **Wingspan:** 80-99 cm - **Weight:** 0.85-1.8 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-10 - **Incubation:** 27-31 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding These diving ducks mostly feast on tasty shellfish and crustaceans found at the bottom of the water! - **Age differences:** Ducklings eat more insect larvae; adults primarily consume marine invertebrates. - **Primary Foods:** Mussels, Clams, Snails, Crustaceans, Small fish - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Blue Mussel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-mussel) (*Mytilus edulis*) — Primary food source found on the ocean floor. - **Eaten by:** Baltic Clam (*Macoma balthica*) — Key food source for scoters, found in shallow waters. - **Eats:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Adult eagles may prey on weak or young scoters. - **Eats:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Known to raid nests, eating eggs and young ducklings. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-winged Scoter? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is White-winged Scoter? 48-58 cm ### What is White-winged Scoter's wingspan? 80-99 cm ### How much does White-winged Scoter weigh? 0.85-1.8 kg ### How long does White-winged Scoter live? 10-15 years ### How fast can White-winged Scoter move? 80 km/h ### What does White-winged Scoter eat? These diving ducks mostly feast on tasty shellfish and crustaceans found at the bottom of the water! ### Where is White-winged Scoter usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Brooks River Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooks-river-archeological-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Bibb City Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bibb-city-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Greenwood Farm](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/greenwood-farm) — Massachusetts, US · Historic Site - [Salisbury Beach State Reservation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/salisbury-beach-state-reservation) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see White-winged Scoter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/white-winged-scoter) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [White-winged Scoter: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-winged-scoter)