plural scoters or scoter
: any of a genus (Melanitta) of sea ducks of chiefly coastal Eurasia, Canada, and the U.S. that have males with chiefly black plumage
Examples of scoter in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Lacombe: More than 20 species of geese, ducks and scoter (seaducks) live here, along with shorebirds and wading birds.
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Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024
Those hunting in marine environments may come across any number of sea-faring divers, such as common eiders or the scoters, which include surf, white-winged, and black scoters.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 30 Nov. 2023
Yes, there are tree ducks like black-bellied whistling ducks, and sea ducks like surf scoters.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 2 Nov. 2023
Two surf scoters at the Quabbin Reservoir, a solitary sandpiper at the Dufresne Park in Granby, a great egret at Lake Wallace in Belchertown, seven sandhill cranes in Worthington, and a pectoral sandpiper on Meadow Street in Amherst.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023
The park’s many marshes serve as a paradise for birders, packed full of eye-catching species like wood ducks, surf scoters, and roseate spoonbills.
—Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2023
All four hunters took limits of bluebills (two birds each) Wednesday, with Wait also taking a bull canvasback and a black scoter and Miller taking a hen can.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 24 Oct. 2022
Seeing the scoter in person ignited a fascination within Ms. Adams.
—Susan Cosier, WSJ, 29 July 2022
The survey extends into the waters off San Diego’s coastline where teams spotted an abundance of surf scoter sea ducks and black brant geese, as is often case.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Dec. 2021
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Carlie Kollath Wells, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024
Those hunting in marine environments may come across any number of sea-faring divers, such as common eiders or the scoters, which include surf, white-winged, and black scoters.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 30 Nov. 2023
Yes, there are tree ducks like black-bellied whistling ducks, and sea ducks like surf scoters.
—M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 2 Nov. 2023
Two surf scoters at the Quabbin Reservoir, a solitary sandpiper at the Dufresne Park in Granby, a great egret at Lake Wallace in Belchertown, seven sandhill cranes in Worthington, and a pectoral sandpiper on Meadow Street in Amherst.
—Isabela Rocha, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023
The park’s many marshes serve as a paradise for birders, packed full of eye-catching species like wood ducks, surf scoters, and roseate spoonbills.
—Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2023
All four hunters took limits of bluebills (two birds each) Wednesday, with Wait also taking a bull canvasback and a black scoter and Miller taking a hen can.
—Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 24 Oct. 2022
Seeing the scoter in person ignited a fascination within Ms. Adams.
—Susan Cosier, WSJ, 29 July 2022
The survey extends into the waters off San Diego’s coastline where teams spotted an abundance of surf scoter sea ducks and black brant geese, as is often case.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Scoter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scoter. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scoter
noun
sco·ter
ˈskōt-ər 
plural scoters or scoter
: any of several ducks of coasts of Eurasia, Canada, and the U.S.
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