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==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
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Three subspecies are currently recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>, split into two species by several authorities<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>: | Three subspecies are currently recognised<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>, split into two species by several authorities<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>: | ||
*''M. f. fusca'' ('''Velvet Scoter''') is found in [[Europe]] and western [[Asia]]. | *''M. f. fusca'' ('''Velvet Scoter''') is found in [[Europe]] and western [[Asia]]. | ||
*''M. f. deglandi'' ('''White-winged Scoter''') occurs in [[North America]] and includes ''M. f. dixoni'' which is no longer recognised. | *''M. f. deglandi'' ('''White-winged Scoter''') occurs in [[North America]] and includes ''M. f. dixoni'' which is no longer recognised. | ||
*''M. f. stejnegeri'' ('''Stejneger's Scoter''') is found in Eastern [[Asia]]. This form is also sometimes proposed for recognition as a full species<sup>[[#References|[4]]]</sup>. | *''M. f. stejnegeri'' ('''Stejneger's Scoter''') is found in Eastern [[Asia]]. This form is also sometimes proposed for recognition as a full species<sup>[[#References|[4]]]</sup>. | ||
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''M. f. deglandi'' has in the past and is increasingly again recognised as a full species (for example by the British BOURC<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>), which would keep the name of White-winged Scoter; subspecies ''M. f. fusca'' being Velvet Scoter. Subspecies ''M. f. 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. | ''M. f. deglandi'' has in the past and is increasingly again recognised as a full species (for example by the British BOURC<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>), which would keep the name of White-winged Scoter; subspecies ''M. f. fusca'' being Velvet Scoter. Subspecies ''M. f. 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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====Notes on distinguishing males of the subspecies==== | ====Notes on distinguishing males of the subspecies==== | ||
| + | [[Image:Velvet Scoter, western Sweden.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Velvet Scoter with wing part-open showing the white secondaries<br />Photo by {{user|Digiscoper321|Digiscoper321}}<br />Western [[Sweden]], April 2015]] | ||
*''M. f. fusca'': the least knob on the bill, and the least white around and behind the eye; almost no white above the eye. The coloured 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. | *''M. f. fusca'': the least knob on the bill, and the least white around and behind the eye; almost no white above the eye. The coloured 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. | ||
*''M. f. 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 ''M. f. fusca''. The white around the eye is shaped as a checkmark, pointed up at the rear end. The coloured 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. | *''M. f. 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 ''M. f. fusca''. The white around the eye is shaped as a checkmark, pointed up at the rear end. The coloured 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. | ||
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | [[Image:Velvet_Scoter2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female Velvet Scoter <br />Photo by {{user|Gwynn|Gwynn}}<br />[[Austria]], February 2006]] | ||
Breeds around fresh water bodies near boreal forests and arctic tundra; sometimes far from the coast. | Breeds around fresh water bodies near boreal forests and arctic tundra; sometimes far from the coast. | ||
Outside of the breeding season, they are to be found in coastal waters, often near shellfish beds | Outside of the breeding season, they are to be found in coastal waters, often near shellfish beds | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
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''M. f. fusca'' often mixes with with [[Common Eider]], and sometimes with [[Common Scoter]]. | ''M. f. fusca'' often mixes with with [[Common Eider]], and sometimes with [[Common Scoter]]. | ||
====Action==== | ====Action==== | ||
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Their diet includes shellfish, crabs, sea urchins, fish, insect larvae and plants. | Their diet includes shellfish, crabs, sea urchins, fish, insect larvae and plants. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
| + | [[Image:Velvet_Scoter_Flight_by_jtwood.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male Velvet Scoter in flight<br />Photo by the late {{user|Jim+Wood|Jim Wood}}<br />East Lothian, [[Scotland]], [[UK]], January 2008]] | ||
They build a lined nest on the ground near lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. The clutch consists of 7-9 eggs. | They build a lined nest on the ground near lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. The clutch consists of 7-9 eggs. | ||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
Revision as of 19:13, 13 June 2015
- Melanitta fusca
Includes Velvet Scoter
Identification
Male White-winged Scoter M. f. deglandi
Photo by digitalbirder
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, February 2005
Photo by digitalbirder
White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, February 2005
Length 51-58cm, weight 1200-1800 g
Male
- Black overall plumage
- White 'tick' just below and behind the eye
- Long yellow bill
- Thick neck
- Pointed tail
Female
- Dusky brown upperparts
- Scaly-looking brownish-grey underparts
- Two pale spots in the head, one on the auriculars, one between eye and bill
Juvenile a paler version of female
Flight
In flight, it shows a white patch on the rear of the wing.
Distribution
Male Stejneger's Scoter M. f. stejnegeri
Photo by DaninJapan
Misawa port, Aomori-Ken, Japan, March 2006
Photo by DaninJapan
Misawa port, Aomori-Ken, Japan, March 2006
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
Subspecies
Three subspecies are currently recognised[1], split into two species by several authorities[2][3]:
- M. f. fusca (Velvet Scoter) is found in Europe and western Asia.
- M. f. deglandi (White-winged Scoter) occurs in North America and includes M. f. dixoni which is no longer recognised.
- M. f. stejnegeri (Stejneger's Scoter) is found in Eastern Asia. This form is also sometimes proposed for recognition as a full species[4].
M. f. deglandi has in the past and is increasingly again recognised as a full species (for example by the British BOURC[3]), which would keep the name of White-winged Scoter; subspecies M. f. fusca being Velvet Scoter. Subspecies M. f. 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.
All three subspecies are prone to occasional vagrancy, with a scattering of records of birds in the normal ranges of the other subspecies.
Notes on distinguishing males of the subspecies
Velvet Scoter with wing part-open showing the white secondaries
Photo by Digiscoper321
Western Sweden, April 2015
Photo by Digiscoper321
Western Sweden, April 2015
- M. f. fusca: the least knob on the bill, and the least white around and behind the eye; almost no white above the eye. The coloured 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.
- M. f. 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 M. f. fusca. The white around the eye is shaped as a checkmark, pointed up at the rear end. The coloured 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.
- M. f. stejnegeri: Head shape closer to Common Eider in shape, with a long, sloping forehead. White around eye similar to or longer than M. f. deglandi. It has a clear knob - almost like a small Rhinoceros horn - on the bill, further forward than M. f. deglandi, and the coloured parts are mostly red with yellow "lipstick" below. Flanks are black.
Females are much harder to distinguish, only determinable at the closest range; M. f. fusca has a slightly concave forehead with no basal swelling on the bill, M. f. stejnegeri a slightly swollen bill base, and M. f. deglandi a marginally more swollen bill base.
Habitat
Breeds around fresh water bodies near boreal forests and arctic tundra; sometimes far from the coast.
Outside of the breeding season, they are to be found in coastal waters, often near shellfish beds
Behaviour
M. f. fusca often mixes with with Common Eider, and sometimes with Common Scoter.
Action
Slower and more powerful than Common Scoter.
Diet
Their diet includes shellfish, crabs, sea urchins, fish, insect larvae and plants.
Breeding
They build a lined nest on the ground near lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. The clutch consists of 7-9 eggs.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Melanitta fusca (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird Names (version 5.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- DUDLEY et al. 2006. The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (7th edition). Ibis 148:526–563 with online updates to 2009
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved May 2015)
- R Strack 2010. Fløjlsænder. Fugle i Felten 1: 6-7, January 2010 (in Danish) .
- Birdweb.org
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-winged Scoter. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 24 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-winged_Scoter
