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The Black Scoter is among the least well known waterfowl species due to the remoteness of its breeding habitat and because of the lack of interest by hunters for this species. There are currently no surveys that provide good population or trend estimates for scoters and thus the population status is unknown. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Several aspects of the breeding and population ecology of the Black Scoter remain poorly understood. For example, reproductive success can vary significantly between years, making adult survival crucial to its population dynamics; thus, this species is particularly sensitive to hunting mortality. The fact that this species congregates during moulting and in winter makes it highly vulnerable to oil spills and other toxic substances. Potential future threats to Black Scoters are believed to include development of aquaculture and offshore wind energy. In Canada, the harvest includes only a few thousand birds in eastern Canada.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
