Page 414 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Family Anatidae Species Melanitta perspicillata Family Anatidae Species Netta rufina
Surf Scoter Red-crested Pochard

Big, bulky, and almost Eider-like (see p.111) in its This large, bulky duck behaves more like a surface-
deep bill and wedge-shaped head, the Surf Scoter is feeder than a diving duck. Drakes have obvious “fuzzy”
worth looking for in large scoter flocks offshore.Very ginger heads,red bills,and black chests;females are plain
similar to Coots (see p.159) when asleep, drakes show brown with a dull whitish lower face. Both have very
a bold white nape patch and multi-coloured bill, but broad white wingbars.They tend to turn up amongst
females are difficult to identify, looking like Velvet flocks of Tufted Ducks (see p.110) and Pochards (see
Scoters (see p.113) with all-dark wings.The deep, dark p.108) on fresh water.
bill is distinctive only at close range. OCCURRENCE Breeds locally in S and E Europe;
OCCURRENCE Rare but regular vagrant from elsewhere occasional (usually escapees).
North America; exceedingly rare inland. VOICE Various quiet barking notes.
VOICE Silent.
multi-coloured bill ginger head
MALE
(SUMMER)
white nape patch red bill
MALE white flanks

Length 45–56cm (18–22in) Wingspan 85–95cm (34–37in) Length 53–57cm (21–22 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 85–90cm (34–35in)

Family Anatidae Species Histrionicus histrionicus Family Anatidae Species Bucephala islandica
Harlequin Duck Barrow’s Goldeneye
Harlequin Ducks prefer rushing rivers, moving to Like a large Goldeneye (see p.115), this Icelandic
coasts and lakes in winter, but rarely travelling far. species has a squarer, bigger head, marked on the drake
Drakes are boldly patterned but look essentially dark, by a long, kidney-shaped white patch where the
with strange white stripes and spots on the head, neck, Goldeneye has a rounder spot.The back is more solidly
and chest. Females are dark brown, dumpy diving black. Females are harder to tell, with a rounder crown,
ducks, with a diffuse white face patch and bright bulkier nape, and more yellow on the bill in summer.
white ear-spot. OCCURRENCE Breeds and winters in Iceland;
OCCURRENCE Iceland; exceedingly rare vagrant in rare vagrant elsewhere.
NW Europe. VOICE Deep growling notes
VOICE Mostly silent. from female. kidney-shaped
white spot
blue-grey
MALE body with white face MALE yellow eye
brown white stripes patch
flanks angular
pointed nape
tail
solid black
back

Length 38–45cm (15–18in) Wingspan 63–70cm (25–28in) Length 42–53cm (16 1 ⁄2 –21in) Wingspan 67–82cm (26–32in)
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