The white-winged scoter (Melanitta deglandi) is a large diving duck found in coastal and inland waters across northern North America. It breeds on freshwater lakes and rivers in the boreal forests and tundra of Canada and Alaska, then migrates to coastal waters for winter.
White-winged scoters are sea ducks that feed primarily on molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic insects, which they reach by diving. Their diet gives the meat a stronger, more distinctly ‘gamey’ flavour compared to dabbling ducks like mallards.
The species has a long history as a traditional food for Indigenous peoples of North America, particularly Alaska Native and First Nations communities. It is not a mainstream commercial food item and is primarily consumed through subsistence and sport hunting.
How it's produced
White-winged scoters are exclusively wild-harvested through hunting. In North America, they are taken as part of regulated waterfowl hunting seasons, subject to bag limits and licensing requirements. Indigenous communities in Alaska and northern Canada also harvest scoters under subsistence hunting provisions.
The birds are typically hunted over coastal waters or at staging areas during migration, using shotguns and decoys. They are not farmed or commercially raised. Population monitoring is conducted by wildlife management agencies to ensure hunting levels remain sustainable.
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≈ Estimated from its category — typical for other red meat, not measured for this item yet. Sources & methods →
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