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|RINGED
SEAL| |HARBOR SEAL| |ELEPHANT
SEAL| |WHITE-WINGED SCOTER|
|SURF SCOTER| |PACIFIC
HALIBUT| |BLACK BEAR|
DOWNLOAD
FACT SHEET AS PDF
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SURF SCOTER
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SURF SCOTERS
CURRENTLY BEING TRACKED:
NONE.
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SURF SCOTER TAXONOMY
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| Phylum: |
Chordata |
Chord
= a string, musical instrument. Chordata = having
a notocord or “back-string”. |
| Class: |
Aves |
Aves
= a bird. |
| Sub-class: |
Neornithes |
Neo =
new, recent, young |
| Order: |
Anseriformes |
Anseri
= of or pertaining to geese. Form = shape, figure,
appearance, nature. |
| Family: |
Anatidae |
Anati
= pertaining to duck. Idae = added to stems of generic
names to form family names. |
| Genus: |
Melanitta |
Mela
= black, blackness, clothed in black. |
| Species: |
perspicillata |
Perspicillat
= conspicuous, spectacular. |
| Range |
May be
found in bays and estuaries from Barrow to Ketchikan
Alaska. Also found along the Pacific and Atlantic
coastlines. A few winter surveys have provided population
estimates in localized areas. However, the lack of
information on these birds in general, makes it difficult
to determine the cause for their recent decline in
numbers. |
| Predators |
Predators
may include Eagles, Perigrine Falcons, fox, and rats.
Predators target injured adults, unattended eggs and
chicks. |
| Prey |
Feed
on mussels, small crabs, clams, barnacles and aquatic
insects. Small portion of diet is composed of plant
material. In spring, they will also feed on herring
roe. |
| Size |
Maximum
size is 1.6m in length and 110kg. Males are somewhat
longer than females. Pups average birth weight is
4.5 – 5.5kg and the average length is 60-65cm. |
| Life
Span |
Very
little is known about the life span. |
| Reproduction |
Sea ducks
such as Surf Scoters do not breed until they are at
least two years old. Some may even forgo nesting.
Females incubate and rear young; males do not assist
with rearing the young. |
| Seasonal
Change |
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| Morphology
And Function |
Males
have a bright multicolored bill and two white patches,
one on the forehead and the other on the back of the
head. Body is black in color. Sometimes referred
to as a skunk duck. Females are less colorful. They
have delicate white patches on the checks below each
eye and another on the nape of their neck. Their
body is dark brown. |
| Unique
Facts |
Much still needs to be learned about the life history
and ecology of this species in order to improve
our efforts to conserve this wildlife resource.
Surf Scoters are virtually unstudied. Molting
areas, migration routes and wintering locations
are poorly known.
Name comes from their swimming habits. Always
found just beyond or in breaking waves.
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References:
Rosenberg, D.H. and M.P. Petrula.
1998. Scoter Satellite Telemetry. Internet WWW page, at
URL: http://www.state.ak.us/adfg/wildlife/duck/scoter/surf.htm.
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