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| − | [[Image:Velvet_Scoter.jpg|thumb|450px|right|White-winged Scoter (American)<br />Photo by {{user|digitalbirder|digitalbirder}}<br /> | + | [[Image:Velvet_Scoter.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Male White-winged Scoter (American)<br />Photo by {{user|digitalbirder|digitalbirder}}<br />White Rock, [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]]] |
;[[:Category:Melanitta|Melanitta]] fusca | ;[[:Category:Melanitta|Melanitta]] fusca | ||
'''Includes Velvet Scoter''' | '''Includes Velvet Scoter''' | ||
| − | |||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 51-58cm. Black | + | 51-58cm. Male: Black, white 'tear drop' just behind the eye, yellow long bill, thick neck and pointed tail. In flight, it shows a white patch on the rear of the wing. Female: brown and somewhat scaly looking, with two pale spots in the head, one on the auriculars, one between eye and bill. |
| − | ====Notes on distinguishing the subspecies==== | + | ====Notes on distinguishing males of the subspecies==== |
| − | + | *''deglandi'': clear knob at the base of the bill, with the yellow-orange part relatively short, so that the eye looks set further back on head than ''fusca''. The white around the eye is shaped as a checkmark, pointed up at the rear end. The colored part of the bill is orange with the top parts looking yellow. The crown is highest in front of the eye. When seen well, flanks will be brown in contrast to black back and breast. | |
| + | [[Image:Velvet_Scoter_Flight_by_jtwood.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Male White-winged Scoter (European) in flight<br />Photo by {{user|jtwood|jtwood}}<br />Location: East Lothian, [[Scotland]], [[UK]], January 2008]] | ||
| + | *''stejnegeri'': Head shape closer to eider in shape, with a long, sloping forehead. White around eye similar to or longer than ''deglandi''. It has a clear knob on the bill, further forward than ''deglandi'', and the colored parts are mostly red with yellow "lipstick" below. Flanks are black. | ||
| + | *''fusca'': the least knob on the bill, and the least white around and behind the eye; almost no white above the eye. The colored section of the bill is yellow and relatively long and the distance from the base of that to the eye is short, producing the impression that the eye is positioned relatively far forward on the head. The crown looks highest above the eye. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
Breeds in northern areas around the globe, such as [[Scandinavia]] (especially [[Sweden]] and [[Norway]]), northern [[Asia]], and northern [[North America]]. | Breeds in northern areas around the globe, such as [[Scandinavia]] (especially [[Sweden]] and [[Norway]]), northern [[Asia]], and northern [[North America]]. | ||
| Line 12: | Line 14: | ||
Migrates in winter to areas that have coastal open water, for example in [[Europe]] will be found from Norway to [[Spain]] and east to the Caspian Sea. | Migrates in winter to areas that have coastal open water, for example in [[Europe]] will be found from Norway to [[Spain]] and east to the Caspian Sea. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | [[Image:Velvet_Scoter2.jpg|thumb|450px|right|"Velvet Scoter", Eurasian ''fusca'' <br />Photo by {{user|Gwynn|Gwynn}}<br /> | + | [[Image:Velvet_Scoter2.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Female "Velvet Scoter", Eurasian ''fusca'' <br />Photo by {{user|Gwynn|Gwynn}}<br />[[Austria]]]] |
Three subspecies are currently recognized: | Three subspecies are currently recognized: | ||
| − | *''deglandi'' (White-winged Scoter) occurs in North America and includes ''dixoni'' which is no longer recognized. | + | *''deglandi'' (White-winged Scoter) occurs in [[North America]] and includes ''dixoni'' which is no longer recognized. |
| − | *''stejnegeri'' is found in | + | *''stejnegeri'' is found in Eastern [[Asia]]. This form is also sometimes proposed for recognition as a full species, Asian White-winged or Stejneger's Scoter. |
| − | *''fusca'' is found in Europe and western Asia | + | *''fusca'' is found in [[Europe]] and western [[Asia]]. |
The subspecies ''deglandi'' has in the past and is increasingly again recognized as a full species (for example by the British BOURC), which would keep the name of White-winged Scoter; subspecies ''fusca'' would then become Velvet Scoter. Subspecies ''stejnegeri'' would be a subspecies of ''M. deglandi'' if BOURC is followed, but has also sometimes been considered a full species. Opus follows the developments in the worldwide checklists. | The subspecies ''deglandi'' has in the past and is increasingly again recognized as a full species (for example by the British BOURC), which would keep the name of White-winged Scoter; subspecies ''fusca'' would then become Velvet Scoter. Subspecies ''stejnegeri'' would be a subspecies of ''M. deglandi'' if BOURC is followed, but has also sometimes been considered a full species. Opus follows the developments in the worldwide checklists. | ||
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Lakes, coastal waters, estuaries. | Lakes, coastal waters, estuaries. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
The diet includes shellfish, crabs, sea urchins, fish, insect larvae and plants. | The diet includes shellfish, crabs, sea urchins, fish, insect larvae and plants. | ||
| − | + | ====Breeding==== | |
It builds a lined nest on the ground close to the sea, lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. 7-9 eggs are laid. | It builds a lined nest on the ground close to the sea, lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. 7-9 eggs are laid. | ||
| − | + | ====Vocalisation==== | |
| − | == | ||
<flashmp3>Melanitta fusca (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Melanitta fusca (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Melanitta fusca (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Melanitta fusca (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | # | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug13}}#[http://www.bou.org.uk/recbrlst.html DUDLEY et al.] 2006. The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (7th edition). Ibis 148:526–563 with online updates to 2009 |
| − | # [http://www.bou.org.uk/recbrlst.html DUDLEY et al.] 2006. The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (7th edition). Ibis 148:526–563 with online updates to 2009 | + | #R Strack 2010. Fløjlsænder. Fugle i Felten, #1, January 2010, pg 6-7. (in Danish) |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
| − | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Melanitta+fusca}} | {{GSearch|Melanitta+fusca}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Melanitta]] | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Melanitta]][[Category:Bird Songs]] |
Revision as of 23:36, 11 January 2014
- Melanitta fusca
Includes Velvet Scoter
Identification
51-58cm. Male: Black, white 'tear drop' just behind the eye, yellow long bill, thick neck and pointed tail. In flight, it shows a white patch on the rear of the wing. Female: brown and somewhat scaly looking, with two pale spots in the head, one on the auriculars, one between eye and bill.
Notes on distinguishing males of the subspecies
- deglandi: clear knob at the base of the bill, with the yellow-orange part relatively short, so that the eye looks set further back on head than fusca. The white around the eye is shaped as a checkmark, pointed up at the rear end. The colored part of the bill is orange with the top parts looking yellow. The crown is highest in front of the eye. When seen well, flanks will be brown in contrast to black back and breast.
- stejnegeri: Head shape closer to eider in shape, with a long, sloping forehead. White around eye similar to or longer than deglandi. It has a clear knob on the bill, further forward than deglandi, and the colored parts are mostly red with yellow "lipstick" below. Flanks are black.
- fusca: the least knob on the bill, and the least white around and behind the eye; almost no white above the eye. The colored section of the bill is yellow and relatively long and the distance from the base of that to the eye is short, producing the impression that the eye is positioned relatively far forward on the head. The crown looks highest above the eye.
Distribution
Breeds in northern areas around the globe, such as Scandinavia (especially Sweden and Norway), northern Asia, and northern North America.
Migrates in winter to areas that have coastal open water, for example in Europe will be found from Norway to Spain and east to the Caspian Sea.
Taxonomy
Three subspecies are currently recognized:
- deglandi (White-winged Scoter) occurs in North America and includes dixoni which is no longer recognized.
- stejnegeri is found in Eastern Asia. This form is also sometimes proposed for recognition as a full species, Asian White-winged or Stejneger's Scoter.
- fusca is found in Europe and western Asia.
The subspecies deglandi has in the past and is increasingly again recognized as a full species (for example by the British BOURC), which would keep the name of White-winged Scoter; subspecies fusca would then become Velvet Scoter. Subspecies stejnegeri would be a subspecies of M. deglandi if BOURC is followed, but has also sometimes been considered a full species. Opus follows the developments in the worldwide checklists.
Habitat
Lakes, coastal waters, estuaries.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet includes shellfish, crabs, sea urchins, fish, insect larvae and plants.
Breeding
It builds a lined nest on the ground close to the sea, lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. 7-9 eggs are laid.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Melanitta fusca (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2013. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.8., with updates to August 2013. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- DUDLEY et al. 2006. The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (7th edition). Ibis 148:526–563 with online updates to 2009
- R Strack 2010. Fløjlsænder. Fugle i Felten, #1, January 2010, pg 6-7. (in Danish)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-winged Scoter. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 16 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-winged_Scoter
