Page 114 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Melanitta nigra
Common Scoter
blackish cap
grey bill
pale tip to wing
dark brown
body greyish white
slim neck
lower face
MALE FEMALE
IN FLIGHT
pointed bill
with yellow
long, pointed all-black body with
tail often duller or paler wings round head patch
raised (browner in summer)
thin neck

MALE
(WINTER)
n a calm day, if Common Scoters are close inshore, their
Omusical calls can be heard, but usually they are seen as distant FLIGHT: fast, low; in long, wavering lines and packs;
dots appearing intermittently on the swell, or flying in long lines rapid, deep wingbeats and sideways rolling action.
along the horizon. Migrants appear for very short stays
inland in mid- and late summer. Common Scoters
favour large, shallow, sheltered bays, although they are
able to ride out storms with ease.Traditional sites may
have thousands of birds, which are vulnerable to oil
pollution.These sites may be inhabited throughout the
year, with large numbers of moulting birds in bays with
plentiful food in late summer and autumn.
VOICE Male has musical, piping whistle; female makes
deep growls.
NESTING Down- and leaf-lined hollow near water,
often on island; 6–8 eggs; 1 brood; March–June. SOCIAL SEA DUCK
FEEDING Dives from surface to find shellfish, Large flocks of the very social Common Scoter often swim on heaving
crustaceans, and worms. swell or fly low over the waves well offshore.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds on moorland pools in
white mark RUDDY DUCK 3similar to 2; Iceland, Scandinavia, and N Great
under eye see p.119 contrasted Britain. Winters on coasts around
smaller, face UK, North Sea, and Baltic, fewer
rounder south to Mediterranean. Flocks
back
found in regular sites almost
throughout year.
VELVET SCOTER 3 Seen in the UK
similar to 3; see p.113 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 45–54cm (18–21 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 79–90cm (31–35in) Weight 1.2–1.4kg (2 3 ⁄4 –3lb)
Social Large flocks Lifespan 10–15 years Status Secure
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