Ducks & Geese

White-winged Scoter

Höckersamtente

Melanitta deglandi

Ducks & Geese2 photosFirst seen: 23 August 2026

The White-winged Scoter is a large sea duck that breeds on northern freshwater lakes and spends much of the rest of the year on coastal water. It dives for mussels, clams and other bottom-dwelling prey, often in compact flocks. The white wing patch can flash conspicuously in flight even when the rest of the bird appears almost black.

ID tip: The broad white patch in the secondaries is diagnostic in flight. Females and young birds show two pale facial patches; adult males have a white eye mark and a swollen orange-and-black bill.

First seen: 23 August 2026 · Kenai Fjords · 2 photos in the collection.

Places in my records

Locations where this species is supported by a dated first record, an unambiguous single-place outing or a reviewed assignment.

Kenai Fjords23 August 2026

Family: Ducks & Geese (Anatidae)
Length: 48–58 cm
Wingspan: 80–89 cm
Regional status: Migrant (Alaska, USA)
Conservation: Least Concern LCIUCN Red List · retrieved 27 August 2026
Habitat: Boreal lakes for breeding and coastal bays and open water outside the breeding season
Diet: Molluscs, crustaceans, aquatic insects and some plant matter

Built from verified occurrence records, not drawn by hand. Core range = the countries holding 99% of all records; the rest are scattered or vagrant records. Record counts track where people watch birds as much as where the birds are, so the map shows presence, not abundance. Data: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). Basemap: Natural Earth.

White-winged Scoter

Places in my records

Selected photographs