Editing Surf scoter (section)

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Surf scoter
| image = Surf Scoter Drake LBI.png
| image_caption = Adult male
| image2 = Hen Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) Barnegat Inlet, New Jersey, USA.jpg
| image2_caption = Adult female
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2018 |title=''Melanitta perspicillata'' |volume=2018 |page=e.T22680441A132528934 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22680441A132528934.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Melanitta
| parent = Melanitta (Melanitta)
| species = perspicillata
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
| range_map = Melanitta_perspicillata_range_map.png
| range_map_caption = Range of ''M. perspicillata'' {{leftlegend|#FF7F27|Breeding range|outline=gray}}{{leftlegend|#FFC909|Wintering range|outline=gray}}
| synonyms = ''Anas perspicillata'' {{small|Linnaeus,&nbsp;1758}}
}}

The '''surf scoter''' ('''''Melanitta perspicillata''''') is a large [[sea duck]] native to [[North America]]. Adult males are almost entirely black with characteristic white patches on the forehead and the nape and adult females are slightly smaller and browner. Surf scoters breed in Northern [[Canada]] and [[Alaska]] and winter along the [[Pacific]] and [[Atlantic]] coasts of North America. Those diving ducks mainly feed on [[benthic]] [[invertebrate]]s, mussels representing an important part of their diet.