- Scientific Name: Melanitta perspicillata
- Length: Up to 22 inches (56 cm)
- Wingspan: Up to 42 inches (107 cm)
- Weight: M: 2.2 lbs (1.0 kg), F: 2.0 lbs (0.9 kg)
- Lifespan: Up to 20 years in the wild
- Diet: Primarily mussels, clams, and other mollusks
- Habitat: Coastal waters, estuaries, and bays in winter; freshwater lakes in breeding season
- Interesting Fact: Surf scoters have a unique feeding method called “baying.” They dive underwater in large groups, churning up the bottom sediment to flush out their preferred prey.
