Black Scoter
Black ScoterBlack ScoterBlack Scoter

Black Scoter

Melanitta americana

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
<5% · Rare
overall probability at Channel Islands National Park
61 Verified records at Channel Islands National Park
March Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The black scoter or American scoter (Melanitta americana) is a large sea duck, 43 to 49 cm (17 to 19 in) in length. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek melas "black" and netta "duck". The species name is from the Latin for "American". Together with the common scoter M. nigra, it forms the subgenus Oidemia; the two are sometimes considered conspecific, the black scoter then being referred to as M. nigra americana. Its French name, used in parts of its Canadian range, is macreuse noire (also meaning "black scoter"). Wikipedia →

<5% of wildlife watchers report a Black Scoter sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 61 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park

Surf Scoter
LC

Surf Scoter

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanitta perspicillata

20–30% · Possible
American White-winged Scoter
LC

American White-winged Scoter

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanitta deglandi

<5% · Rare
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

50–60% · Likely
Ruddy Duck
LC

Ruddy Duck

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oxyura jamaicensis

30–40% · Possible
Gadwall
LC

Gadwall

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca strepera

30–40% · Possible
Northern Shoveler
LC

Northern Shoveler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula clypeata

20–30% · With luck
Bufflehead
LC

Bufflehead

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala albeola

20–30% · With luck
Cinnamon Teal

Cinnamon Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spatula cyanoptera

10–20% · With luck
Lesser Scaup
LC

Lesser Scaup

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Aythya affinis

10–20% · With luck
Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

10–20% · With luck
Red-breasted Merganser
LC

Red-breasted Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus serrator

10–20% · With luck
American Wigeon

American Wigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca americana

5–10% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
5–10
Mar
<5
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
2 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
3 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
4 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
5 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
6 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
7 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
8 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
9 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
10 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
11 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
12 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
14 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
15 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
16 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
17 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
Insufficient data
18 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
19 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black Scoter in Channel Islands National Park?

About 1% of wildlife watchers report a Black Scoter sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 61 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black Scoter in Channel Islands National Park?

March has the highest sighting rate for Black Scoter in Channel Islands National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Channel Islands National Park