Editing Surf scoter (section)

== Distribution and habitat==
Compared to most Northern American sea ducks, the surf scoter breeds exclusively in North America, mostly in Northern Canada and Alaska.<ref name="Johnsgard"/> Then, they take different migration routes to spend the winter in more temperate environments.

While small numbers regularly winter in western Europe as far south as the British Isles, the vast majority of surf scoters winter along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. The Pacific coast host the highest number of individuals and its large wintering range extends over 5000&nbsp;km, from the [[Aleutian Islands]] in Alaska to the [[Baja Peninsula]] in [[Mexico]].<ref name="Uher">{{cite journal|last1=Uher-Koch|first1=Brian D.|last2=Esler|first2=Daniel|last3=Iverson|first3=Samuel A.|last4=Ward|first4=David H.|last5=Boyd|first5=W. Sean|last6=Kirk|first6=Molly|last7=Lewis|first7=Tyler L.|last8=VanStratt|first8=Corey S.|last9=Brodhead|first9=Katherine M.|last10=Hupp|first10=Jerry W.|last11=Schmutz|first11=Joel A.|title=Interacting effects of latitude, mass, age, and sex on winter survival of Surf Scoters (''Melanitta perspicillata''): implications for differential migration|journal=Canadian Journal of Zoology|date=21 January 2016|volume=94|issue=3|pages=233–241|doi=10.1139/cjz-2015-0107|bibcode=2016CaJZ...94..233U |s2cid=26254444}}</ref>

This migratory species breeds in the boreal forests near northern freshwater lakes.<ref name="Uher"/> Very few nests have been observed but they tend to be near spruce cover, slightly upland to wetland areas.<ref name="Palmer"/> To complete its molt before migration, the surf scoter travels to a molting site, which differ from the wintering or the nesting site. Because of the vulnerable state of the ducks in those periods, molting sites are assumed to have profitable food and lower predation risks and they are located in bays, inlets or estuaries.<ref name="Uher"/> 
The surf scoter winters in marine habitats near the shore.<ref name="Palmer"/><ref name="Johnsgard"/>

=== Migration ===
Many migration routes have been observed, and the route choice of the surf scoter will depend on the latitude of its nesting site.<ref name="DeLaCruz">{{cite journal|last1=De La Cruz|first1=S. E. W.|last2=Takekawa|first2=J. Y.|last3=Wilson|first3=M. T.|last4=Nysewander|first4=D. R.|last5=Evenson|first5=J. R.|last6=Esler|first6=D.|last7=Boyd|first7=W. S.|last8=Ward|first8=D. H.|title=Spring migration routes and chronology of surf scoters (''Melanitta perspicillata''): a synthesis of Pacific coast studies|journal=Canadian Journal of Zoology|date=2009|volume=87|issue=11|pages=1069–1086|doi=10.1139/Z09-099|bibcode=2009CaJZ...87.1069D |s2cid=21198645}}</ref> The departure date of the birds may vary according to their wintering site, but the date of arrival and settling on the nesting site appear to be synchronous. This suggest that because of different factors such as the weather or varied foraging conditions, the individuals adjust their migration timing to meet an optimized reproductive schedule.
<ref name="DeLaCruz"/>
The ducks face very different environmental conditions depending on the location of their wintering grounds, which affect their migratory behavior. Higher proportions of males have been located in the northern part while more females and juveniles winter in the southernmost portion of the range.<ref name="Uher"/> In spring, males and females migrate together to their breeding area and they usually settle at their nesting sites less than a week after arrival.<ref name="Lesage"/>