: The Most Distinguished Diver of the Sea
The Surf Scoter, also known as the sea coot or surf duck, is a striking black and white bird with an unmistakable profile. Its bulbous orange, red and white bill makes it one of the most easily recognizable birds in North America. In this blog post, we will explore more about this fascinating waterfowl.
Basic Description
Male Surf Scoters have glossy black feathers except for their large white eye patches that stand out prominently against their dark bodies. The females are dark-brown with paler faces and underparts compared to males. Both sexes have short wings relative to body length which facilitates underwater swimming but complicates flying.
Where To Find This Bird
Surf scoters breed in Arctic tundra lakes across Canada and Alaska during summer months before migrating southward coasts during winter months along both East Coast and West Coast of North America from Alaska to Baja California in Mexico.
Habitat
These ducks prefer shallow saltwater areas such as bays, estuaries, harbors or protected shorelines so they can dive down up to 80 feet deep looking for mollusks like clams or mussels using their unique serrated bills that crush shellfish shells like nutcrackers munching nuts.
Food
Unlike other seaducks consuming crustaceans too small for humans’ taste buds, scoters primarily consume bivalve mollusks which make up 95% of adult’s diet supplemented by gastropods & marine worms sometimes diving over half-mile away from shore!
Cool Facts
– Male Surf Scoters perform courtship displays involving head bobbing accompanied by calls resembling burps.
– Although not classified as endangered species yet numbers have been declining due habitat loss caused by coastal development, impacted by oil spills and pollution, ingestion of lead sinkers used for fishing.
– They are also vulnerable to climate change due to modifications in available prey as well as rising sea levels affecting nest sites.
In conclusion, the Surf Scoter is one of the most intriguing birds found in North American waters. Their unique physical features make them stand out while their diving abilities leave onlookers mesmerized. However, with environmental factors threatening their existence, we must take steps to protect these remarkable creatures before it’s too late.
