From Opus

White-winged Scoter (American)
Photo by digitalbirder
Location: White Rock, British Columbia, Canada

Melanitta fusca

Includes Velvet Scoter

[edit] Identification

51-58cm. 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Taxonomy

"Velvet Scoter", Eurasian fusca
Photo by Gwynn
Location: Austria

Three subspecies are currently recognized:

• deglandi occurs in North America and includes dixoni which is no longer recognized. This subspecies has in the past and is increasingly again recognized as a full species, which would keep the name of White-winged Scoter. Opus follows the developments in the worldwide checklists.
• fusca is found in Europe and western Asia, this becomes Velvet Scoter if the split of American birds goes through.
• stejnegeri is found in Estern Asia. This form is also sometimes proposed for recognition as a full species, Asian White-winged or Stejneger's Scoter.

[edit] Habitat

Lakes, coastal waters, estuaries.

[edit] Behaviour

The diet includes shellfish, crabs, sea urchins, fish, insect larvae and plants.

It builds a lined nest on the ground close to the sea, lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. 7-9 eggs are laid.

[edit] Bird Song

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

• List of references

[edit] External Links