Marie Read / Surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) flock on water, Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey, USA, March

Marie Read / Male Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), feeding on clam, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, California, USA, February

Marie Read / Male Surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) feeding on clam, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, California, USA, February

Brent Stephenson / Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) male running along the surface gaining speed to take off. Walker Cove, Alaska, United States, July.

Matthew Maran / A flock of Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) taking off from water. West coast of Vancouver Island, Canada, March.

Matthias Breiter / Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) flock taking flight, Saturna Island, British Columbia, Canada

Matthew Maran / Flock of Surf Scoter ducks {Melanitta perspicillata} in flight, Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

LYNN M. STONE / Surf scoter duck {Melanitta perspicillata} female, California, USA

Tom Vezo / Female Surf scoter duck {Melanitta perspicillata} on water, California, USA.

Doug Wechsler / Surf scoter, immature male {Melanitta perspicillata} California, USA.

Tom Vezo / Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) male flying above water, California

Tom Vezo / Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) male in water feeding on clam, California

Mike Potts / Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) migrating flock in flight over mussel beds, Haines, SE Alaska. May

Mike Potts / Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) migrating flock in flight over mussel beds, Haines, SE Alaska. May

Mike Potts / Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) migrating flock on water, feeding over mussel beds, Haines, SE Alaska. May

Tom Vezo / Surf scoter female {Melanitta perspicillata} California USA Bolsa Chica reserve

Tom Vezo / Surf scoter male {Melanitta perspicillata} California USA Bolsa Chica reserve