White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) is in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans family (Anatidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 6,221 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in November.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph White-winged Scoter: observations by month (U.S.)
About 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.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
White-winged Scoter by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1,390 | November | Oct–Apr |
| Washington | 699 | December | Sep–Apr |
| California | 558 | November | Nov–Mar |
| New York | 432 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Alaska | 387 | May | May–Aug |
| Georgia | 256 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Maine | 250 | December | Nov–Mar |
| Illinois | 217 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Oregon | 194 | November | Oct–Apr |
| New Jersey | 189 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Michigan | 168 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Maryland | 162 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Ohio | 120 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Texas | 102 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Minnesota | 97 | October | Oct–Feb |
| Pennsylvania | 82 | February | Feb–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 81 | December | Oct–Mar |
| Wisconsin | 71 | December | Nov–Dec |
| Delaware | 60 | February | Nov–Feb |
| Colorado | 58 | November | Nov–Jan |
| North Carolina | 57 | February | Nov–Feb |
| Vermont | 53 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Virginia | 52 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Florida | 50 | December | Nov–Jan |
| Indiana | 40 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Arizona | 39 | January | Jan–Jan |
| Connecticut | 39 | December | Oct–May |
| New Hampshire | 33 | December | Nov–Feb |
| Tennessee | 33 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Utah | 26 | November | Oct–Dec |
| Oklahoma | 25 | November | Nov–Feb |
| South Carolina | 21 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Louisiana | 19 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Montana | 19 | November | Oct–Nov |
| Kentucky | 15 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Mississippi | 14 | January | Dec–Jan |
| New Mexico | 13 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Alabama | 11 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Kansas | 11 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 11 | February | Jan–Feb |
| Idaho | 10 | December | Oct–Dec |
| Missouri | 10 | February | Nov–Feb |
| Nebraska | 10 | November | Nov–Dec |
| Wyoming | 9 | November | Nov–Nov |
| District of Columbia | 7 | February | Jan–Feb |
| South Dakota | 6 | November | Nov–Jan |
| North Dakota | 5 | February | Feb–Feb |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
Mallard
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Northern Shoveler
Bufflehead
American Wigeon
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Duck
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph White-winged Scoter?
Nationally, November has the most observations, with the main season from October to April.
Where is White-winged Scoter most often seen?
The most observations come from Massachusetts, Washington, California.