Black Scoter


	Black Scoter
	Melanitta nigra

A coastal duck that breeds in the subarctic, the Black Scoter is not well studied in North America. Only a few nests have ever been found.

Interesting Information

The Black Scoter is divided into two subspecies. In the form found in Europe, the "Common Scoter," the male has a larger swollen knob at the base of the upper bill that is black on the sides with a yellow stripe on top, not entirely yellow.
The Black Scoter occasionally does a "Wing-flap" display while swimming, flapping its wings with its body held up out of the water. Unlike other scoters, it almost always punctuates a Wing-flap with a characteristic downward thrust of head, as if its neck were momentarily broken. Surf and White-winged scoters keep their heads and bills pointing more or less above the horizontal throughout a Wing-flap.
The Black Scoter is among the most vocal of waterfowl. Groups of Black Scoters often can be located by the constant mellow, plaintive whistling sound of the males.

Description

Adult Description

Size: 43-53 cm (17-21 in)
Wingspan: 84 cm (33 in)
Weight: 862-1270 g (30.43-44.83 ounces)
Stocky diving duck.
Black.
No white in wings.
Male all black with swollen yellow or orange knob at base of bill.
Female blackish with large whitish face patch.
Eyes dark brown.
Legs brownish black, joints darker.

Sex Differences

Male solid black with bright knob at base of bill, female more brown, with large whitish face patch and without bill knob.

Male

Black with metallic gloss. Side and flank feathers long and pointed. Eyelids yellow. Swollen orange-yellow knob on base of upper bill, divided by black along middle of upper surface.

Female

Sooty brownish. Dark cap contrasting sharply with pale grayish brown feathers on rest of head. Sides and flanks paler with indistinct barring. Bill not swollen or only slightly, may have hint of yellow.

Immature

Similar to adult female but with white belly.

Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide by David Allen Sibley

Habitat

Breeds on small lakes. Winters in coastal waters, especially over rocky bottoms.

Behavior

Dives for prey on or near bottom.

Food

Aquatic invertebrates, especially aquatic insects and mollusks, a little vegetation.

Taxonomy

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Subfamily:	Anatinae
Genus:	Melanitta
Species:	Melanitta nigra
Subspecies:	Melanitta nigra americana
	Melanitta nigra nigra

Similar Species

Female Surf Scoter has a similar capped look with whitish cheeks, but does not have completely clean cheeks, and has a more stepped forehead. Surf Scoter male has orange on its bill, but generally shows some white there and white patches on the head.
Female White-winged Scoter has whitish patches on a dark face, a sloped profile, and large white wing patches.
Winter Ruddy Duck shows white cheeks, but is smaller, paler, and has a light chest.

Bird Sound

Wings make whistling noise in flight. Male gives clear whistle in courtship. Female give grating "kraaa."

Eggs look like this

Photo taken from: ARCTOS Collaborative Collection Management Solution

	Sources Used To Construct This Page
	Bellrose, F. C. 1976. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA. Bordage, D., and J. L. Savard. 1995. Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra). In The Birds of North America, No. 177 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists? Union, Washington, D.C.

	All photos and videos © Rick Swartzentrover - Free for non-profit use.