White-winged Scoter Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWhite-winged Scoter
Adult male
Large mostly dark sea duck with bulge at base of orange-red bill. White in wings is often visible at rest. White comma-shaped patch (or "Viking horn") around eye.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, July 08, 2017Female
Large brownish sea duck with large, sloping dark bill. Two white facial patches, both relatively round. White wing patch often visible at rest.
© Kevin Hannah / Macaulay LibraryOntario, January 01, 2017Adult male
Feeds by diving for aquatic invertebrates, including mussels, clams, and oysters, which they swallow whole, shell and all. The hard shells are broken apart by the bird's gizzard.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 01, 1997Not all videos have sound
Adult male
Large blackish sea duck with orange-tipped bill. Large white patches in wings (secondaries) are prominent in flight.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 03, 2016Female
Large brownish sea duck with large dark bill. White patches in the wings (secondaries) are prominent in flight.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, November 05, 2015Immature male
Immature males lack the white markings of either adult males or adult females. White wing patch often visible at rest.
© John Reynolds / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, February 13, 2017Adult male and immature
Adult male is dark bodied; immature has whitish belly. Both show prominent white wing patch in flight.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, February 02, 2014Habitat
Often found on coastal water bodies in winter. May appear on inland lakes during migration.
© Jody Wells / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, November 10, 2016Similar SpeciesSurf Scoter
Adult male
Males have a large white patch on the back of the neck that male White-winged Scoters lack.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 12, 2007Similar SpeciesSurf Scoter
Female
Females have a darker cap than White-winged Scoters and lack the white wing patch.
© Esme Rosen / Macaulay LibraryNevada, October 19, 2013Similar SpeciesBlack Scoter
Adult male
Males are entirely black and have a yellow knob on their bill that White-winged Scoters lack.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, December 21, 2016Similar SpeciesBlack Scoter
Female
Females have a darker crown and a whiter cheek patch than female White-winged Scoters.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, May 27, 2017Similar SpeciesAmerican Coot
Adult
American Coots are smaller with a thinner bill than White-winged Scoters. They also lack the pale spots on the head of male and female White-winged Scoters.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, February 27, 2010Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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