There are two populations of Black Scoters in Canada: the Atlantic population and the Pacific population. The Atlantic population breeds in Newfoundland and Labrador, northern Quebec, the Hudson Bay lowlands of Ontario, and the coast of Manitoba. The Pacific population breeds mainly in Alaska, northern Yukon, and northwestern Northwest Territories (Lepage and Savard 2013a). 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. There are currently no surveys that provide good population or trend estimates for the Black Scoter. Additional information is needed to better assess the status of Black Scoter populations in Canada. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
A number of aspects of the breeding ecology of the Black Scoter remain poorly known (Bordage and Savard 2011). Reproductive success can vary significantly between years, making adult survival crucial to population dynamics. Thus, this species’ population may be sensitive to mortality from hunting. The fact that this species congregates during moulting and in winter makes it highly vulnerable to oil spills and other toxic substances. The Black Scoter could also face threats from the expected development of offshore wind energy and aquaculture. The development of new hydroelectric projects and the construction of transmission lines in northern Quebec could also modify the landscape and affect the breeding of the species (Lepage and Savard 2013a).
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.
