Surf Scoter: a two-minute wildlife lesson

On the Lake · day 6 of 7

Five facts

1. The male surf scoter is velvet black with white patches on his forehead and the back of his neck. His puffy bill is painted white, red and yellow.
2. Its scientific name perspicillata comes from a Latin word meaning "spectacled".
3. Surf scoter flocks dive almost all at once, like a team. The bigger the group, the more in step their dives are.
4. Underwater, it swallows its food whole. It picks smaller mussels and clams than it could, probably because shells take energy to break down.
5. In late winter and spring, surf scoters switch to whatever food pays best, such as Pacific herring eggs when the fish spawn.

The quiz

1. Where does the male surf scoter have white patches?

• On his wings and tail
• On his forehead and the back of his neck (correct)
• On his feet
• All over his belly

He is all velvet black apart from white patches on his forehead and nape.

2. What does the scientific name perspicillata mean?

• Spectacled (correct)
• Black duck
• Sea diver
• Big beak

It comes from a Latin word meaning "spectacled".

3. How do flocks of surf scoters dive?

• One bird at a time, all day
• Only at night
• Almost all at the same time (correct)
• They never dive

Flocks dive in a highly synchronised way, more so in bigger groups.

4. Why do surf scoters probably choose smaller shellfish?

• They are more colourful
• Their bills are too weak to open any
• Big ones are too slow
• Breaking down shell costs energy (correct)

Swallowing shells whole means extra work, so smaller ones are a better deal.

5. Which treat do surf scoters eat when Pacific herring spawn?

• Herring eggs (correct)
• Seaweed
• Berries
• Sand

They feed on Pacific herring eggs during the fish spawning.

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