• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Difference between revisions of "White-winged Scoter" - BirdForum Opus

Page Discussion
View source History
(Picture of Subspecies ''stejnegeri''.)
(Photo caption amended. Deceased member link to Gallery only as per Editors discussion)
(10 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
[[Image:Velvet_Scoter.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Male White-winged Scoter (American)<br />Photo by {{user|digitalbirder|digitalbirder}}<br />White Rock, [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]]]
+
[[Image:Velvet Scoter, Musselburgh.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Male '''Velvet Scoter''' ''M. f. fusca'' <br />Photo by the late '''[http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=35827 Jim Wood]'''<br />Musselburgh, Scotland, February 2010. ]]
 
;[[:Category:Melanitta|Melanitta]] fusca
 
;[[:Category:Melanitta|Melanitta]] fusca
 
'''Includes Velvet Scoter'''
 
'''Includes Velvet Scoter'''
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
−
51-58cm<br />
+
[[Image:Velvet_Scoter.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male '''White-winged Scoter''' ''M. f. deglandi'' <br />Photo by {{user|digitalbirder|digitalbirder}}<br />White Rock, [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]], February 2005]]
 +
Length 51-58cm, weight 1200-1800 g<br />
 
'''Male'''
 
'''Male'''
 
*Black overall plumage
 
*Black overall plumage
−
*White 'tear drop' just behind the eye
+
*White 'tick' just below and behind the eye
 
*Long yellow bill
 
*Long yellow bill
 
*Thick neck
 
*Thick neck
−
*Pointed tail
+
*Pointed tail<br />
−
[[Image:Velvet_Scoter2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female "Velvet Scoter", Eurasian ''fusca'' <br />Photo by {{user|Gwynn|Gwynn}}<br />[[Austria]]]]
+
'''Female'''
 +
*Dusky brown upperparts
 +
*Scaly-looking brownish-grey underparts
 +
*Two pale spots in the head, one on the [[Topography#Heads|auriculars]], one between eye and bill<br />
 +
'''Juvenile''' a paler version of female
 
====Flight====
 
====Flight====
 +
 
In flight, it shows a white patch on the rear of the wing.
 
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 [[Topography#Heads|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.
 
−
[[Image:Velvet_Scoter_Flight_by_jtwood.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male White-winged Scoter (European) in flight<br />Photo by the late '''[http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=35827 Jim Wood]'''<br />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==
 +
[[Image:Scooter bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male '''Siberian Scoter''' ''M. f. stejnegeri''<br />Photo by {{user|DaninJapan|DaninJapan}}<br />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]].
 
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.  
 
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 Scoter - Melanitta fusca2.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Reels|Reels}}<br />Musselburgh, East Lothian, [[Scotland]], December 2009]]
 
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
−
Three subspecies are currently recognized<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</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. deglandi'' (White-winged Scoter) occurs in [[North America]] and includes ''dixoni'' which is no longer recognized.   
+
*''M. f. fusca'' ('''Velvet Scoter''') is found in [[Europe]] and western [[Asia]].
−
*''M.f. 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.  
+
*''M. f. deglandi'' ('''White-winged Scoter''') occurs in [[North America]] and includes ''M. f. dixoni'' which is no longer recognised.   
−
*''M.f. fusca'' is found in [[Europe]] and western [[Asia]].
+
*''M. f. stejnegeri'' ('''Siberian Scoter''') is found in Eastern [[Asia]]. This form is also sometimes proposed for recognition as a full species<sup>[[#References|[4]]]</sup>.
 +
''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. The subspecies ''M. f. stejnegeri'' is a subspecies of ''M. deglandi'' if IOC<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup> or BOURC<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup> is followed, but is also considered a full species, ''M. stejnegeri'' by BirdLife<sup>[[#References|[4]]].
 +
 
 +
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====
 +
[[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. 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.
  
−
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==
 
==Habitat==
−
[[Image:Scooter bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''stejnegeri''<br />Photo by {{user|DaninJapan|DaninJapan}}<br />Misawa port, Aomori-Ken, [[Japan]], March 2006]]
+
[[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==
 +
''M. f. fusca'' often mixes with with [[Common Eider]], and sometimes with [[Common Scoter]].
 +
====Action====
 +
Slower and more powerful than Common Scoter.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
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 '''[http://www.birdforum.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=35827 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====
Line 47: Line 60:
 
''[[Media:Melanitta fusca (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
''[[Media:Melanitta fusca (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
==References==
 
==References==
−
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#[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
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V5.2}}#[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)  
+
#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive: [http://www.hbw.com/species/siberian-scoter-melanitta-stejnegeri Siberian Scoter] (retrieved May 2015)
−
#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
 
#Birdweb.org
−
#Wikipedia
+
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728
 +
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==

Revision as of 16:13, 14 June 2015

Male Velvet Scoter M. f. fusca
Photo by the late Jim Wood
Musselburgh, Scotland, February 2010.
Melanitta fusca

Includes Velvet Scoter

Identification

Male White-winged Scoter M. f. deglandi
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 Siberian Scoter M. f. stejnegeri
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 (Siberian 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. The subspecies M. f. stejnegeri is a subspecies of M. deglandi if IOC[2] or BOURC[3] is followed, but is also considered a full species, M. stejnegeri by BirdLife[4].

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
  • 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

Female Velvet Scoter
Photo by Gwynn
Austria, February 2006

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

Male Velvet Scoter in flight
Photo by the late Jim Wood
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.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Melanitta fusca (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. 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/
  2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2015. IOC World Bird Names (version 5.2). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  3. DUDLEY et al. 2006. The British List: A Checklist of Birds of Britain (7th edition). Ibis 148:526–563 with online updates to 2009
  4. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive: Siberian Scoter (retrieved May 2015)
  5. R Strack 2010. Fløjlsænder. Fugle i Felten 1: 6-7, January 2010 (in Danish) .
  6. Birdweb.org
  7. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728
  8. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition ISBN 0 00 219900 9

Recommended Citation

External Links

Retrieved from ‘https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/index.php?title=White-winged_Scoter&oldid=208707’
Back
Top