Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), Watson Lake, Yavapai County

This Surf Scoter was discovered by David Moll and photographed by Bryan Patrick on 31 October 2012

Surf Scoter is listed as 'accidental-Winter' in Birds of Prescott by Tomoff and is the more common of the scoters to turn up in Arizona in late fall/winter.

This bird shows the dark cap and white face patches of a female Surf Scoter, along with its distictive, heavy, triangular bill.  White-winged Scoter would have a longer, thinner bill and feathering extending down the bill. 

31 October 2012, photo by Bryan Patrick