American White-winged Scoter

American White-winged Scoter

Melanitta deglandi

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Great Bear Rainforest

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

1,618 Verified sightings at Great Bear Rainforest From 2019 to 2026
5,028 In all 17 parks
December Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the American White-winged Scoter

The white-winged scoter (Melanitta deglandi) is a large sea duck. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek melas "black" and netta "duck". The species name commemorates French ornithologist Côme-Damien Degland. The white-winged scoter is one of three North American scoter species and the largest species of scoter. Females range from 950 to 1,950 g (2.09 to 4.30 lb) and 48 to 56 cm (19 to 22 in), averaging 1,180 g (2.60 lb) and 52.3 cm (20.6 in). The male ranges from 1,360 to 2,128 g (2.998 to 4.691 lb) and from 53 to 60 cm (21 to 24 in), averaging 1,380 g (3.04 lb) and 55 cm (22 in). The white-winged scoter has a wingspan of 31.5 in (80 cm). This species is characterized by its bulky shape and large bill, which is feathered at the gape unlike the blocky bill base of the surf scoter. The white secondary flight feathers by which the species is named is visible in flight, but may be concealed when swimming.

The male is all black, except for white around the eye and a white speculum. The bill is orange and red with a large black knob at the base. It takes three years for definitive (adult) plumage to be attained – second-year males resemble adult males but exhibit... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:16

Canada · 2014

© Andrew Spencer · XC181618 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
2 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
3 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~20%
4 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
5 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
6 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
7 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
8 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
9 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
10 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
~10%
11 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
12 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
13 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
14 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
15 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
16 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
17 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Boston 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
2 Toronto 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
3 Seattle 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
4 Anchorage 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
5 Montreal 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
6 Mesa 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
7 Vancouver 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
8 San Francisco 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
9 Chicago 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
10 Las Vegas 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Buttonwood Park Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an American White-winged Scoter in Great Bear Rainforest?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report an American White-winged Scoter sighting in Great Bear Rainforest on a given day, based on 1,618 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 31st most-seen of the 239 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an American White-winged Scoter in Great Bear Rainforest?

December

In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report an American White-winged Scoter in Great Bear Rainforest on a given day, against about 10% in August, the lowest month.

What time of day is best to see an American White-winged Scoter?

Between 3 and 6 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most American White-winged Scoter sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Great Bear Rainforest the best place to see an American White-winged Scoter?

Yes

Of the 17 parks where we can rate American White-winged Scoter sightings, Great Bear Rainforest has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (Canada, about 20%) and Cape Breton Highlands National Park (Canada, about 20%).

Which relatives of the American White-winged Scoter live in Great Bear Rainforest?

Same genus: Melanitta

The closest relatives of the American White-winged Scoter that you can see in Great Bear Rainforest (genus Melanitta, Scoters) are Surf Scoter (about 30%) and Black Scoter (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the American White-winged Scoter sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the American White-winged Scoter is recorded against all the birds logged in Great Bear Rainforest (1,618 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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